19/07/2013 19:00
Serbian youngsters unhappy with their debut in Novi Sad
2013 CEV Youth Beach Volleyball Continental Cup - Zonal Phase
Novi Sad, Serbia, July 19, 2013. On Friday a third Zonal Phase tournament for the inaugural CEV Youth Beach Volleyball Continental Cup got started at Strand beach, the same venue that is currently hosting the 2013 Novi Sad Masters. Young players aged from 14 to 17 and representing five countries – Serbia, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Malta – debuted on the international stage as they try to seize the two tickets available to make it to the final stage coming up in May 2014 and where the European contingent for the 2014 Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China will be eventually determined.
In the girls’ competition Serbia is represented by Sara Jovicic who recently claimed gold at the Balkan U22 Championship held in Stip, F.Y.R. of Macedonia. In Novi Sad she teamed up with Milana Stojanoski to easily edge Malta’s Maria Gatt/Nicole Bonello in straight sets (21-8, 21-6) before losing to Switzerland’s Dunja Gerson/Nadine Mattmann 1:2 (17-21, 21-9, and 5-15). On Saturday the local heroines will be playing Italy’s Irene Enzo/Michela Lantignotti while the Swiss girls are waiting for the winners of the fixture starring the young players from Malta and Spain’s Patricia Llabres/Carla Alocen. It is interesting to note that the Gerson family is well represented in Novi Sad as Marc is coaching the Swiss youth national team, Mirco competed at the Novi Sad Masters together with Alexei Prawdzic while the baby of the family, Dunja, is carrying the Swiss hopes in the Youth Continental Cup.
In the boys’ division Serbia’s Igor Andric/Zoran Petrovic lost their opening game to Italy’s Manuel Alfieri/Paolo Di Silvestre in straight sets (17-21, 18-21) and on Saturday will try to get back on track by taking on Spain’s Sergio Bruque and Luis Vives.
Click here for more info
|