2017 FIVB BEACH VOLLEYBALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – VIENNA
- July 28 to August 6
- Vienna Centre Court, Vienna, Austria
- Co-ed
- Championships
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Elize Maia and Taiana Lima’s impressive run through Beach Worlds came to an end Thursday at the hands of countrywomen and No. 9 seeded Maria Antonelli/Carol Salgado.
Maria Antonelli/Carol posted a definitive 21-9, 21-19 win to move on to the quarterfinals, where they will face another Brazilian foe in No. 1 seed Larissa Franca/Talita Altunes, who also won in straight sets.
Lima was disappointed in her team’s showing, which included giving up five aces and five blocks as well as seven points on errors.
“We didn’t play at all in the first set,” Lima said. “We also started the second set in bad shape, but we improved slowly and in the end it was close. That’s how the match was supposed to be. They were the better team and we didn’t deserve to win. We had good moments in the tournament, but also too many ups and downs and, in a tournament like this, we got to be more consistent if you want to succeed. This is the lesson we learned here”.
Six of the final eight teams are Top 12 seeds. Falling in the Round of 16 were No. 6 Barbora Hermannova and Marketa Slukova and No. 10 Nina Betschart and Tanja Huberli.
Hermonnova/Slukova were upset by Americans April Ross and Lauren Fendrick in a tight three-set affair. Ross/Fendrick put up seven blocks in the match and were assisted by 23 Czech miscues. Fendrick did the bulk of the scoring, putting down 18 kills and added six blocks and an ace.
That was up there [with the best comebacks I’ve been a part of],” Ross said. “Yesterday was a comeback too. We want to come out of the gate strong. I am stoked with the way Lauren and I played in the third set. We want to play with the aggression of the third set tomorrow…In the third set, I don’t know how many blocks [Lauren] had, but that was a game changer.”
No. 7 seeded Canadians Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Paredes notched a straight set win to extend their unbeaten set streak. The duo has not lost a single seat thus far at Beach Worlds in its five matches.
“We try to take care of business as soon as possible,” Pavan said. “The big thing is we never really panic and we try to be consistent. Even if we do give up points, we’re confident in our team and we trust each other. I think that’s the big thing that helps carry us through when the times get tough. Even this morning we were able to pull out a close one even when we got down because we never stop believing.”
Top 12 Results
#1 Larissa Franca/Talita Altunes def. Joana Heidrich/Anouk Verge-Depre (Switzerland) 21-19, 21-16
#2 Chantal Laboureur/Julia Sude (Germany) def. Riikka Lehtonen/Taru Lahti (Finland) 21-17, 21-19
#4 Laura Ludwig/Kira Walkenhorst (Germany) def. Sarah Hughes/Kelly Claes (USA) 21-16, 21-16
#5 Summer Ross/Brooke Sweat (USA) def. Kristyna Kolocova/Michala Kvapilova (Czech Republic)17-21, 22-20, 15-12
April Ross/Lauren Fendrick (USA) def. #6 Barbora Hermannova/Marketa Slukova (Czech Republic) 19-21, 23-21, 15-9
#7 Sarah Pavan/Melissa Humana-Paredes (Canada) def.#10 Nina Betschart/Tanja Huberli (Switzerland) 21-17, 23-21
#9 Maria Antonelli/Carol Salgado (Brazil) def. Elize Maia/Taiana Lima (Brazil) 21-9, 21-19
The competition is now down to eight teams: two American, two Brazilian, two Canadian and two German. The Brazilian pairs will face off in the quarterfinals, while the rest of the groupings are split up.
Of the eight teams, only defending Olympic Gold medalists Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst and fourth place finishers Larissa/Talita were with their current partners at the 2016 Rio Games. Ludwig/Walkenhorst moved to 5-0 with a win over American duo Hughes/Claes on Thursday.
Bronze medalist American April Ross is playing with Lauren Fendrick after splitting with partner Kerri Walsh Jennings at the beginning of this season. Canadian duo Sarah Pavan and Heather Bansley have new partners in 2017 after teaming up for a quarterfinal berth in 2016.
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