23/07/2016 00:02
Women’s semi-finalists known in Vaduz, top men’s team through to Round 3
2016 CEV Beach Volleyball Satellite - Vaduz
Vaduz, Liechtenstein, July 22, 2016. The third competition day at the CEV Satellite in Vaduz continued the positive trend from earlier in the week – matches were played under ideal weather conditions even though actions were stopped twice because of short, yet heavy rain showers. The semi-finalists of the women’s tournament were determined at the end of the day whilst the second round of the men’s competition was not completed because of a few long matches and resulting delays. As many as 1,000 fans came together in the capital of Liechtenstein to enjoy the tournament and the good weather as well.
Top-seeded Austrians through to Round 3
Switzerland’s top men’s team, Nico Beeler and Alexei Strasser, have already secured a spot among the top five after claiming two clear wins on Friday. As for the remaining Swiss teams, Marco Krattiger/Jonas Kissling and Adrian Heidrich/Gabriel Kissling recorded one win and one loss apiece to book – at least – a spot among the top ten. Austria’s top-seeded Thomas Kunert and Christoph Dressler made it through to the third round with two straight wins and will now play Poland’s Maciej Kosiak/Maciej Rudol who last year won bronze in Vaduz.
Rio-bound Dutchwomen continue triumphal march
Rio-bound Sophie van Gestel and Jantine van der Vlist of the Netherlands continued their triumphal march in Vaduz with another 2-0 win to progress to the semis where they will be playing the second-seeded pair of the tournament, Switzerland’s Nina Betschart and Tanja Hüberli. After losing on Thursday to Hana Skalnikova/Sarka Nakladalova of the Czech Republic, Betschart and Hüberli fought their way back through the losers’ bracket where they got their revenge from the Czechs after a hard-fought match – 15-21, 21-19, 19-17.
Betschart and Hüberli looked relieved after the match: “We made far fewer unforced errors than in the opening match and we adjusted our service strategy, which also contributed to our success,” said the gold medallists from this year’s CEV Satellite in Baden.
A Czech derby was played earlier in the day with Skalnikova/Nakladalova taking on Kristyna Kolocova and Michala Kvapilova, the no. 3 seed of the tournament. Skalnikova and Nakladalova fought bravely but their younger countrywomen eventually claimed a 2-0 win after two close sets (21-18, 25-23).
In the semis Kolocova/Kvapilova will play Germany’s Lisa Arnholdt and Anni Schumacher. Schumacher is a bronze medallist from the 20103 edition of the Vaduz Satellite, whilst the only 19-year-old Arnholdt is a silver medal winner from the 2014 FIVB U19 World Championships. The Germans lost to van Gestel/van der Vlist in Round 3 but came back through the losers’ bracket to stay in contention for a spot of the podium.
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