22/12/2018 22:00
Californian ladies endure freezing conditions to win gold in Moscow
CEV Snow Volleyball European Tour 2019 - Moscow
Moscow, Russia, December 22, 2018. After travelling all the way from California to Russia, the team of Katherine Spieler, Emily Hartong, Karissa Cook and Alexandra Wheeler claimed the top honours from the women’s competition of the CEV Snow Volleyball European Tour 2019 stop in Moscow. Teams from Russia and Lithuania completed the podium.
The women’s semis featured four teams from as many countries – Russia, Lithuania, Turkey and USA. Russia’s home stars Olga Filina/Anna Romashova/Elizaveta Terenteva and Elizaveta Novikova managed to progress to the ‘grand finale’ after edging a Turkish team that had beaten another Russian team in the quarterfinals. In the second semi-final, the team from USA easily beat their opponents from Lithuania.
The home team from Russia was able to put up a fight in the final against the Americans, who were yet to lose a set since the start of the tournament. After clearly losing the first set, Filina/Romashova/Terenteva/Novikova regrouped and fought their way back to claim the second 15-13. However, the USA Team emerged victorious from the tiebreak (15-10) to crown with gold their Russian adventure – they had come to Moscow after receiving a wild card from the organisers.
“We are happy; it was a great tournament in a cold, but beautiful Moscow. Thanks to everyone involved in our experience here. We enjoyed the great atmosphere. The FIVB and CEV need to continue to develop this sport, since it has a great future. We ourselves live in California, such weather is not something usual for us, but we will still try to play some more Snow Volleyball tournaments at the first opportunity we get,” said the joyful USA Team after their victory.
The bronze medals went to sisters Gerda and Rugile Grudzinskaite and Daiva Anuskeviciute from Lithuania, who were able to beat the team from Turkey in a close three-set match. Lithuania has become some kind of a Snow Volleyball superpower, since earlier this year they won women’s gold and men’s bronze at the inaugural European Championship in Austria.
Click here for further information.
|