07/08/2014 20:00
Reigning U20 European champions claim their first main draw ticket
2014 CEV Beach Volleyball European Championship – Biel/Bienne Masters
Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, August 7, 2014. On Thursday Swiss youngsters Nina Betschart and Nicole Eiholzer delighted the spectators of the Biel/Bienne Masters – Beachmania with their first qualification for the main draw of an international elite tournament. Four teams from four different countries could win their ticket for the men’s main draw stage after some tight matches.
The Swiss fans were ready – they wanted to support their rising stars Nina Betschart and Nicole Eiholzer (pictured) in the qualification round of the Biel/Bienne Masters. The youngsters were spurred by the overwhelming support of the local crowd and overcame their Italian opponents Lucia Bacchi/Agata Zuccarelli by 2-1 (21-17, 18-21, 15-8). The Swiss juniors – gold medallists from last year’s CEV U20 European Championship in Vilnius – had to pass an interview marathon after the game since newspapers, radio and TV stations all wanted to talk to Nicole Betschart and Nicole Eiholzer after their home exploit.
Dutch girls Laura Bloem and Marloes Wesselink defeated another Italian tandem, Francesca Giogoli and Nellina Mazzulla, in two straight sets (21-19, 21-18) to claim the last main draw ticket. The first and second seeds of the qualification round, Teresa Mersmann/Isabel Schneider of Germany and Norway’s Cindy Treland/Janne Pedersen made it to the main draw after receiving a bye in the qualification round.
In the men’s competition, 14 teams fought for the last four main draw tickets at the Biel/Bienne Masters, fourth stop of this year’s CEV Beach Volleyball European Championship. The Swiss team Andreas and Roman Sutter couldn’t make it to the second round. The spectators, however, passionately rooted for their heroes and were rewarded with an exciting game where Andreas and Roman eventually lost to Martin Tichy and Robert Kufa of the Czech Republic (22-20, 21-23, 17-19).
Spain’s Francisco Alfredo Marco/Christian García, Austria’s Peter Eglseer/Felix Koraimann, France’s Youssef Krou/Edouard Rowlandson and Germany’s Tim Holler/Jonas Schröder complete the main draw that will get underway on Friday morning.
The Swiss fans are looking forward to exciting games, as the top teams of the Beachmania will finally take it to the sand there on the shores of Lake Biel. Apart from prize money and FIVB ranking points, there is even more at stake since the winners of the men’s tournament as well as the gold and silver medallists of the women’s competition will claim a spot for their respective National Federations to join the line-up of next year’s FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in the Netherlands.
Click here for more information and visit also the official website www.beachmania.ch
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