09/06/2019 20:00
Cyprus secure spot in Continental Cup 2nd round to make Beach Volleyball history
2018-2020 CEV Beach Volleyball Continental Cup
Larnaka, Cyprus, June 9, 2019. Finland and Ukraine were the eventual winners of the men’s and women’s competition at the CEV Beach Volleyball Continental Cup – Pool H event held this weekend in Larnaka. Cyprus caused a real sensation as they finished the women’s tournament in second place to progress to the next stage of the competition – just as France did in the men’s event.
If Ukraine were the obvious favourites of the women’s competition, Cyprus achieved a historic result with their second place. On Saturday, Cyprus lost the first-place match to Ukraine but resumed their campaign on Sunday playing Moldova for second place and a ticket to the next round. Mariota Angelopoulou and Zoi Konstantopoulou opened proceedings with a 2-0 victory over Natalia Andrianova and Ecaterina Arabadji.
The next match was even more dramatic, as Daria Gusarova and Erika Zempyla needed three sets to edge Polina Voleanin and Maria Idjilov 21-13, 18-21, 15-8, much to the delight of a full house at Finikoudes Beach. Gusarova and Zempyla comfortably won the first set before their rivals responded to call for a tiebreak. The Cypriot players eventually stormed to a 15-8 win to secure second place for their country and a spot in the next round of the Continental Cup due to take place in May 2020.
The CEV President attended the final day of competition in Larnaka as well as the medal ceremony together with representatives of the Cyprus Volleyball Federation.
It is a truly historic achievement for Cyprus, only a few days after their Volleyball women’s team achieved back-to-back wins over Georgia in the European Silver League. Earlier this weekend, the Cypriot team had edged Scotland 2-0 before losing the first place match to the Ukrainian experienced teams of Inna and Iryna Makhno and Diana Lunina/Maryna Samoday.
CEV President Aleksandar Boričić was among those attending the last day of action in Larnaka at the end of a week he spent in Cyprus to meet with some of the most prominent political and sports authorities of the Mediterranean island.
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