27/02/2018 11:00
Chevallier/Strasser and Leemann/Schmid crowned first-ever Swiss Snow Volleyball champions
News from the National Federations
Engelberg, Switzerland, February 27, 2018. Reigning Swiss Beach Volleyball champions Sébastien Chevallier and Alexei Strasser reigned supreme at the first-ever Swiss Snow Volleyball national championships in Engelberg to go down in history as the first Swiss team to claim the Beach Volleyball and Snow Volleyball crowns. Sarah Leemann/Claudia Schmid upset top-seeds Tatjana Greber/Kim Huber in the women’s gold medal game to finish on the top of the podium as well.
It was a historic inaugural edition of the Swiss #SnowVolleyball championships. As many as 25 teams (18 men’s and 7 women’s teams) from all over Switzerland flocked to the famous Lake Trübsee in Engelberg at an altitude of 2,207 to fight for glory. Despite the freezing temperatures in the famous ski resort, the teams did not need any extra motivation to turn up the heat.
The shining stars of the inaugural Swiss Snow Volleyball championships were reigning Swiss Beach Volleyball champions Sébastien Chevallier and Alexei Strasser. Chevallier, who finished 9th at the 2012 Olympic Games in London with Sascha Heyer, and his teammate Strasser crowned Chevallier’s debut on the snow with the first-ever Swiss title in Snow Volleyball and a ticket to the inaugural edition of the CEV Snow Volleyball European Championship just six months after claiming gold at the domestic Beach Volleyball championships in Bern.
The Beach Volleyball stars merely conceded one set in the entire tournament. In the “grand finale”, Chevallier/Strasser overpowered Raphael Zurgilgen, who finished fifth at the CEV Snow Volleyball European Tour stop in Roccaraso the week before, and his teammate Thomas Meier 2-0 (11-7, 11-3). In the game for bronze, Remo Spahr and David Schlatter overcame Basil Bolli and Moritz Bolli in a nail-biting matchup 2-1 (8-11, 11-9, 11-8) to secure a spot on the podium.
In the women’s competition, Sarah Leemann and Claudia Schmid upset top seeds Kim Huber and Tatjana Greber 2-0 (11-9, 13-11) in the gold medal game. This title at the inaugural Swiss Snow Volleyball championships is one of the biggest achievements in their careers. In the third place game, on the other hand, Nathalie Käslin and Rahel Pietroboni edged Tamara Durrer and Irène Niederberger 2-1 (9-11, 12-10, 12-10) in a hard-fought game to take home bronze.
With the titles in their pocket, the newly crowned Swiss Snow Volleyball champions Chevallier/Strasser and Leemann/Schmid secured a berth to compete at the 2018 CEV Snow Volleyball European Championships taking place in Wagrain-Kleinarl & Flachau (AUT) from March 23 to 25, 2018.
Click here for further information, including all results.
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