09/05/2015 18:18
Mission accomplished for Dutch men and women, all through to Continental Cup finals
2014-2016 CEV Beach Volleyball Continental Cup - Men & Women
Limassol, Cyprus, May 9, 2015. The main attraction of the Continental Cup Pool G matches held in Limassol, Cyprus, were definitely 2013 world champions Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen from the Netherlands who justified their pre-match reputation, and together with their compatriots Steven van de Velde and Christiaan Varenhorst helped the Netherlands earn automatic qualification for the final phase of the 2014-2016 CEV Beach Volleyball Continental Cup. The first place in the women’s competition was decided in a more dramatic fashion, as the Netherlands won the ‘golden match’ against Finland.
Click here for further information including results and a detailed match programme
The 3rd Round tournaments are being covered extensively also on the CEV’s Facebook page and Twitter account, make sure you also use the official hashtag #CEVContinentalCup!
After easily edging the home teams of Cyprus earlier in the morning, Brouwer/Meeuwsen claimed a relatively easy first set against the Israeli pair Alon Sanderovich and Netanel Amiram Ohana (21-9), but the game got tougher for the Dutch in the second set. “Having won the first set with considerable ease, I got a bit carried away in the second set especially at the start,” said Alexander Brouwer. “I was lucky that Robert (Meeuwsen) was focussed and concentrated throughout the set, something which was enough to carry us through.”
The second Dutch-Israeli affair proved to be a completely different story and a much more exciting match for the centre court faithful audience. Sean Faiga and Ariel Hilman proved worthy opponents for Steven van de Velde and Christiaan Varenhorst in both sets, which ended with the same score line for the ‘Oranjes’ (21-19).
The men’s team from Israel will now play tomorrow, Sunday, for second and third place against the winners of the morning matches between Cyprus and Finland.
As far as the women’s competition is concerned, Sophie van Gestel and Jantine van der Vlist got revenge for their earlier defeat at the hands of Riikka Lehtonen and Taru Lahti in three sets. The Dutch women played a much better game, second time round, winning by 2-0 sets (21-19, 21-16).
“The fact that we lost earlier to the same opponents made us more stubborn and eager to win,” said Jantine van der Vlist, and she added: “It’s a very important double success for our country and we feel very happy as we have continued from where the men have left.”
Finland will now play tomorrow for second and third place with the winner of the Cyprus vs. Latvia matches.
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