BEACH VOLLEY NEWS - Δηλαβέρη: Αφιερωμένο στην οικογένειά μου το χρυσό στο Πόρτο Χέλι

Τον πρώτο τους τίτλο για τη φετινή χρονιά κατέκτησαν οι Αθηνά Δηλαβέρη / Κάταλιν Κις, επικρατώντας στον τελικό του τουρνουά Masters Πόρτο Χελίου του Πανελληνίου Σιρκουΐ Beach Volleyball 2010 των Ελίνας Παπαδοπούλου / Χριστίνας Παρασκευαϊδου με 2-0.

«Παρ’ όλη τη χθεσινή ήττα στους προημιτελικούς, επιστρέψαμε συγκεντρωμένες και μας άξιζε αυτή η νίκη», είπε μετά την επιτυχία της η Δηλαβέρη. «Στη Νάξο δεν είχαμε πάει καλά, καθώς στον τελικό αντιμετωπίσαμε δυνατές αντιπάλους από το παγκόσμιο μπιτς βόλεϊ. Θα ήθελα να ευχαριστήσω τους χορηγούς μας—την Kleenex και την Asics—καθώς και τον προπονητή μας για την βοήθειά του. Το μετάλλιο το αφιερώνω στην οικογένεια μου».

«Ηταν ένα δύσκολο τουρνουά», πρόσθεσε η Κις. «Εγιναν δυνατά παιχνίδια που έφτασαν στο τάι-μπρέικ. Εμείς, εάν κρατάμε την ψυχραιμία μας, μπορούμε να πετύχουμε και άλλες ανάλογες νίκες».

Την ικανοποίησή τους από το επίπεδο των αγώνων εξέφρασαν και οι φιναλίστ, Παπαδοπούλου και Παρασκευαΐδου: «Ολα κύλησαν άψογα», είπε η Παρασκευαΐδου. «Η διοργάνωση ήταν εκπληκτική και η τοποθεσία μοναδική. Το τουρνουά είχε ομαλή ροή. Ολα κύλησαν χωρίς προβλήματα. Ευχόμαστε να γίνουν εδώ αγώνες και του χρόνου. Tέλος, αξίζουν πολλά ευχαριστώ στους χορηγούς μας—Pyramis, τον κύριο Φουρναράκη, την BodyAction και την EVERLAST».

France beat Serbia in final match of World League weekend

France picked up a valuable 3-2 (25-23, 18-25, 21-25, 25-20, 15-8) win over Serbia in Sunday's final 2010 FIVB World League match of the weekend, denying the home side an early entry to the Final Round at home in Belgrade.

Both teams started well and remained even early on. Serbia then broke the deadlock thanks to good blocking and went up by. However, in the end the visitors took first blood and went up 1-0.

The home side tried to gain some momentum in the second set  only succeeded in earning a two point lead thanks to powerful blocking. Once again, the visitors found the right composure in defence and turned the result in their favour going up three points. However it was Serbia's turn to fight back and from then the home side was unstoppable, winning points with ease and increasing the lead to pick up the set.

Both teams struggled in the third set with the hosts only managing to gain a one point lead. They continued with their lad however the Netherlands weren't to be stopped as they came back in a late rally. But before the French could see out the set, Nikola Kovacevic stepped up with a number of powerful spikes to bring the scores closer and eventually send his team into the lead for the first time in the match.

The fourth set began equally before France took a narrow lead. Serbia started to play better prompting France to do the same. The visiting team continued with the good performance, but Mr. Kolakovic was forced to spend another time-out at 14:19. However, it was of no use, as the French team easily won the fourth set at 20:25, tying the result at 2:2, after 26 minutes of play.

The French team opened the tie-break very strongly and immediately went up by three points before Mr. Kolakovic asked for a time-out. However, the Frenchmen won yet another  point after the break, and the lead grew before the sides were changed.

Serbia never managed to recover from such a large deficit, and the Frenchmen obtained this important victory winning the fifth set after 13 minutes of play.

Serbia now face the tough task of playing Italy as China prepare to take on France.

ΠΑΝΕΛΛΗΝΙΟ ΠΡΩΤΑΘΛΗΜΑ ΠΑΜΠΑΙΔΩΝ: Πρωταθλητής ο Ηρακλής

O Ηρακλής επικράτησε με 3-1 στον «εμφύλιο» της Θεσσαλονίκης κόντρα στον Επίκουρο και κατέκτησε την πρώτη θέση στο Πανελλήνιο πρωτάθλημα Παμπαίδων, η τελική φάση του οποίου διεξήχθη στο ΔΑΚ Πολίχνης το διήμερο 3 και 4 Ιουλίου. Στην τρίτη θέση κατετάγη ο Πανερυθραϊκός, που νίκησε στον μικρό τελικό τον ΑΟ Γεωργίου Ζώη με 3-2.

ΠΑΝΕΛΛΗΝΙΟ ΠΡΩΤΑΘΛΗΜΑ ΠΑΜΠΑΙΔΩΝ

Τελική φάση (3-4 Ιουλίου, ΔΑΚ Πολίχνης)

Τελικός
Κυριακή 4/7: ΓΣ Ηρακλής - ΕΣΟΠ Επίκουρος 3-1 (25-14, 25-13, 22-25, 25-20)
«Μικρός Τελικός»
Κυριακή 4/7: ΑΟ Γεωργίου Ζώη - ΑΣ Πανερυθραϊκός 2-3 (25-20, 30-28, 14-25, 20-25, 9-15)

Brazil hand Korea second defeat of weekend

Brazil overcame Korea for the second time this weekend as the hosts went down 3-1 (25-18, 25-23, 23-25, 25-15) in their 2010 FIVB World League Pool A clash on Sunday.

Korea now slip to ten defeats in a row and only have next weekend to pick up their first win of this year's tournament as the penultimate weekend of the competition begins to draw to a close.

Brazil started well in defense, letting nothing through the solid block to pick up the first set 25-18. 

That defense began to breach in the second. Korean libero Yeo Oh-Hyun succeeded with six digs, but the home side's concentration and skills were not enough as Brazil's Leandro Vissotto scored 12 points to help the defending champions take the 2-0 lead. 

However, it was Brazil's lack of concentration that punished them in the third set as Korea pulled a set back with a tight 25-23 win. Brazil's service receptions were not up to scratch and Korea took advantage quickly to keep alive any hopes of victory.

However those hopes were quickly extinguished by the visitors as they used their experience to go on the rampage, and eventually saw out the set and the match.

"It was a tough game today because Korea team played better than yesterday's match," Endres Murilo, Brazil captain said. "We hope Korea gets good results from the rounds left."

Brazil now travel to Bulgaria for a winner-takes-all match while Korea visit the Netherlan

BEACH VOLLEY - Ξενάκης / Κοτσιλιάνος και Κουζούνης / Σουλτανόπουλος στους «4»

Οι Μάνος Ξενάκης / Γιώργος Κοτσιλιάνος και οι Παύλος Κουζούνης / Δημήτρης Σουλτανόπουλος πέτυχαν διαδοχικές νίκες το πρωΐ της Κυριακής και συμπληρώνουν την τετράδα των ημιτελικών στο Masters Πόρτο Χελίου του Πανελληνίου Σιρκουΐ Beach Volleyball 2010.

Ο πέντε φορές πρωταθλητής Ελλάδος Ξενάκης και ο νέος συμπαίκτης του από εφέτος, Κοτσιλιάνος, νίκησαν τους Μιχάλη Λαμπρινό / Χάρη Σακόγλου με 2-0 (21-16, 21-12) και εν συνεχεία απέκλεισαν τους Νίκο Ζουπάνη / Παναγιώτη Μούρτζιο επίσης με 2-0 (21-14, 21-18).

Οι Κουζούνης / Σουλτανόπουλος, αντιθέτως, χρειάσθηκαν δύο τάϊ-μπρέϊκ για να προκριθούν, νικώντας τους Νίκο Κωστακόπουλο / Τάκη Μαυράκη με 2-1 (21-13, 21-23, 15-9) και τους Ανέστη Δημητριάδη / Χάρη Παπαδόπουλο με 2-1 (12-21, 22-20, 15-7).

Στα ημιτελικά οι Ξενάκης / Κοτσιλιάνος αντμετωπίζουν τους Μανώλη Δημητριάδη / Θοδωρή Παπαδημητρίου και οι Κουζούνης / Σουλτανόπουλος παίζουν με αντιπάλους τους Δημήτρη Αποστόλου / Φερνάντο Μπιλλήρη.

Οι ημιτελικοί γυναικών και ανδρών στο Πόρτο Χέλι είναι προγραμματισμένοι να αρχίσουν ώρα 15:30. Οι τελικοί θα αρχίσουν από ώρα 20:00 υπό το φως των προβολέων και θα μεταδοθούν "ζωντανοί" από την τηλεόραση του Σπορ+ (και σε επανάληψη τη Δευτέρα 18:00-20:00 από την ΕΤ-1).

Austria celebrates sensational victory against Turkey

As predicted yesterday, today's game was very enthralling and Austria showed their real potential in their last European League game in front of the home crowd. In less than two hours they beat the Turkish national team in 4 sets (26-24, 23-25, 26-24, 25-22).
In the second game of the 2010 CEV European League played in Steyr, the Austrians entered the first technical time-out with an 8:7 lead despite some troubles finding their game in the beginning. Compared to yesterday, the Turkish team had difficulties with their serves and Austria was able to build up a two-point lead at 18:16. Although the Turks tied the score at 22, the Austrians kept their focus and won the set 26-24.
The Turks found their way back into the game in the second set, put the Austrians under pressure with their serves and by the second technical time-out, they had built up a lead of five points. Incited by the audience, the Austrians fought back and tied the score at 22. This time the Turks had the odds on their side and leveled the score in sets with a 25-23.
The third set was a close call with ups and downs on both sides. Both teams wanted to take over the lead, but in the end Michael Warm's team made the decisive points – 26:24 for Austria.
The fourth set was a close battle as well. At the score of 22:18 everyone started to believe in a sensation. Then the Austrians finally achieved their goal. In less than two hours they had defeated Turkey with a 25-22 in the last set.
Laimer (21), Schneider (15) and Gavan (10) were the top scorers for Austria tonight. Batur (26), Pezuk (16) and Kirici (12) topped the charts for Turkey.
Michael Warm, head coach of Austria, said after the match: “Last weeks’ hard work was rewarded today. We had very intense technical trainings the last nine weeks and although we didn't win too many games, we were able to play at a very good level. Especially Michael Laimer, who had been working very hard the past weeks, played very strong matches today and yesterday. In terms of the 2011 EuroVolley, we're still at the beginning of a very intense program in order to reach the quality of our opposing teams”.
Daniel Gavan, captain of Austria, added: “We played better today and reached our goal. Today's game bid a good farewell to Austria. We won the first and last game of this year's European League and played many games that are important for our match practice. Michael Laimer took a big step forward. We still have a long way to go until the EuroVolley 2011”.
Veljko Basic, head coach of Turkey: “Basically it was the same as yesterday, but we made many mistakes - especially in the fourth set. I think my team is very tired. Our problem was that we made the mistakes in the end of the sets. Now we want to prepare ourselves for the last games against Portugal”.
Turkey’s captain Sinan Cem Tanik concluded: “Today we didn't play as well as yesterday. Our serves were not good enough to put the Austrians under pressure with their attacks. The Austrians improved the reception, we tried to keep up, but made mistakes in the decisive moments”.

Results
Austria vs. Turkey 3:1 (26-24, 23-25, 26-24, 25-22)

BEACH VOLLEY - Top-seeded teams confirm their status in Kazan

The very first stop of the 2010 Russian Beach Volleyball tour is coming to a close in the capital city of Tatarstan. On Saturday the event continued with matches being played on three courts, located within the hotel and entertainment complex "Riviera", to look for the teams that will compete in the final four. The first-seeded duos in both grids confirmed their role as pre-favorites of the event.
The third competition day started with the last women's pool games that were supposed to determine the final standings in each quartet. In two groups – C and D - the points ratio was necessary to identify those girls that eventually made it to the next round.
The quarterfinals opened on court 2 with first-seeded Galina Boyko/Ekaterina Raevskaya playing a very ambitious duo from the city of Obninsk, Anna Vozakova/Natalia Stepanova. The game lasted for about an hour and the girls from Mytishchi, a city located in the Moscow Region, stamped a comeback to snatch victory in the final tie-break. In the other matches scheduled for the quarterfinals, the winners of the preliminary Pools did not experience real problems and all advanced to the final stage of the tournament. In Sunday’s semifinals Boyko/Raevskaya will hence play Moiseeva/Syrtseva and will try to seek for revenge after having suffered an unexpected defeat during the pool play. The second semifinal will feature Ryabova/Chaika against Viktoria Rastykus/Daria Yarzutkina.
“Due to some technical overlays with our application we had to play the qualification tournament, but on the other hand this is not too bad since this gave us more chances to practice. I am very glad that we haven't experienced any special problems in the quarterfinals. On Sunday, we really want to get to the finals, and then compete for gold” commented semifinalist Viktoria Rastykus.