Fethiye, Turkey, September 19, 2014.  The women’s 2014 CEV U22 Beach Volleyball European Championship continued with pool play games in Fethiye, Turkey on Friday.  After the second day of action 24 teams qualified for the elimination rounds to stay in the competition.

Russia and Germany have been the most successful countries so far with two pool winners each. Russia’s Ksenia Dabizha / Ksenia Dyachuk finished in the first place in Pool G and Nadezda Makroguzova / Daria Rudykh are the leaders in Pool H.  From Germany’s side, Anna Behlen / Anika Krebs and Sandra Ittlinger / Yanina Weiland topped in Pool B and Pool D, respectively.

Dabizha / Dyachuk won their first game yesterday and today they played a deciding game against France’s Ophelie Lusson / Margaux Carrere.  The Russian team lost the first set which was very close, but stayed in the game and after a good performance, eventually they won by 3:1 (15-17, 15-10, 19-17, 15-6).

“We are happy to finish in the first place in our pool,” said Ksenia Dabizha.  “It will help us in the next stage because we will play one game less.  France is a very strong team.  We were very concentrated.  We want to have a good result in this tournament.  We are fighting for each ball and need to continue like this.”

Her partner Ksenia Dyachuk stated that even though they felt some pressure during the game, they knew what they had to do.  “That was a very emotional game,” she commented.  “There was some pressure for us.  But we played well and eventually won the game.  We will do our best to go further in the championship.”

Elena Sviridova / Maria Sviridova, the third Russian team in the championship, gained the second place in Pool A, behind Czech duo Anna Komarkova / Nicole Dostalova.

Nicole Eiholzer / Dunja Gerson from Switzerland, Valeryia Babenka / Yana Mileuskaya from Belarus and Katharina Schuetzenhoefer / Lena Plesiutschnig from Austria are the other pool winners and advanced directly to the eighthfinals of the 2014 CEV U22 Beach Volleyball European Championship.

The championship will continue with single elimination games on Saturday, starting with Round 1 games between second and third placed teams.

Click here for more detailed information on the competition.