Begins with a lot of suffering but also with a prestigious success for Italian beach volleyball the penultimate Elite 16 before the end of the run-up to the pass to Paris scheduled for ad Espinho in Portugal. Two defeats and a success that still holds Nicolai/Cottafava’s hopes of qualifying were lit to the direct elimination phase, while Menegatti/Gottardi crash into their “bete noires” and tomorrow they will have to outdo themselves to get back on top.
In the men’s field Nicolai/Cottafava’s adventure got off to a bad start who came out defeated in what should have been the least complicated match of their group against the Australians Hodges/Schubert. In reality this was the worst time to face Hodges/Schubert who are in full swing to qualify and absolutely need to get through the first round to enter among the top 17 couples qualified directly for Paris. Indeed the Australians played a great match, taking advantage of a bit of rust in the blue pair who, already certain of qualification, has worked a lot physically in recent weeks and is not yet in her best condition.
Hodges/Schubert immediately set the record straight and got off to a flying start in the first set, taking the lead 11-6 and then 14-8. Down 18-11, the Azzurri tried to raise their heads by placing a break of 1-4 but had to surrender with a score of 21-16. In the second set great balance. The game is played point by point until 19 all, then the Azzurri have the first set ball, canceled out by the Australian pair who reverse the situation and wins 22-20.
In the second match of the group, opposed to Czech world champions Perusic/Schweiner, the Azzurri took their second consecutive victory against the world champions by winning 2-1 at the end of a daring and strange match. The Italian couple has dominated the first set with a score of 21-11, in the second set it was the Czechs who prevailed with the score of 21-12 (with a 7-0 break from 13-11 to 20-11). The tie break also fluctuated with the Azzurri first ahead 7-5, then down 8-10 and finally doing well at 11-12 to place the decisive break of 3-0 which channeled the match on the right tracks: 15-13. Tomorrow However, Nicolai/Cottafava will have to win the challenge against the Qataris Cherif/Ahmed to aim for qualification because a defeat with any score risks being detrimental for the Azzurri.
In the women’s field debut with defeat and a bit of disappointment for Marta Menegatti and Valentina Gottardi who go to the cash register to pay the duty towards the Spanish Alvarez/Moreno who for two consecutive years eliminated the Italians in the quarter-finals of the European Championship and this time beat them 2-1 in a very important match which opened the group for both.
In the first set the two teams chased each other in fits and starts. The Italians were unable to take advantage of a 15-12 advantage, they were caught and overcome in the final with a 0-4 break by the Spanish, good at asserting themselves 9-7pm. In the second set the Italians are ahead again 14-9 but the comeback nightmare threatens again with the Spanish couple coming close in the score to 19-18 but in the final surrenders with a score of 21-19. The comeback nightmare, however, materializes in the tie break. Gottardi/Menegatti start ahead 10-6 and 12-8, they win three match balls at 14-11 and then literally turn off the lights. The Spanish come back and even serve for the match at 14-15. The blues cancel two match balls but in the third they surrender 16-18 with a bag full of regrets.
Tomorrow Menegatti/Gottardi will face one of the couples of the moment at 10.00, the Brazilians Barbara/Carol who this year were first in Doha, third in Tepic and fifth in Brasilia and who have already defeated the Italian couple twice, precisely in Doha and in Tepic. To finish, the Italians will face the Australians Mariafè/Clancy at 5pm who, when they smell the Olympic Games, are always very dangerous to face.
WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT
Groups. Pool D. Nuss/Kloth (USA)-Tainá/Victoria (BRA) 2-0 (24-22, 22-20), Stam/Schoon (NED)-Pinheiro/Castro (POR) 2-0 (21-11, 21-11). Pinheiro/Castro (POR)-Tainá/Victoria (BRA) 0-2 (14-21, 12-21), Stam/Schoon (NED)-Nuss/Kloth (USA) 2-1 (17-21, 23-21 , 15-9). 24/5 18: Stam/Schoon (NED)-Tainá/Victoria (BRA), Nuss/Kloth (USA)-Pinheiro/Castro (POR) [12]
Pool C. Gottardi/Menegatti (ITA)-Álvarez/Moreno (ESP) 1-2 (19-21, 21-19, 16-18), Carol/Barbara (BRA)-Mariafe/Clancy (AUS) 2-1 ( 21-13, 18-21, 15-12). 5/24 10: Mariafe/Clancy (AUS)-Álvarez/Moreno (ESP), Carol/Barbara (BRA)-Gottardi/Menegatti (ITA). 17: Carol/Barbara (BRA)-Álvarez/Moreno (ESP), Gottardi/Menegatti (ITA)-Mariafe/Clancy (AUS).
Pool B. Xue/Xia (CHN)-Vergé-Dépré/Mäder (SUI) 2-1 (21-9, 14-21, 15-13), Hughes/Cheng (USA)-Müller/Tillmann (GER) 0- 2 (12-21, 16-21). 24/5 9: Müller/Tillmann (GER)-Vergé-Dépré/Mäder (SUI), Hughes/Cheng (USA)-Xue/Xia (CHN). 14: Hughes/Cheng (USA)-Vergé-Dépré/Mäder (SUI), Xue/Xia (CHN)-Müller/Tillmann (GER).
Pool A. Tina/Anastasija (LAT)-Raupelyte/Paulikiene (LTU) 2-1 (22-24, 21-10, 15-6), Ana Patrícia/Duda (BRA)-Hüberli/Brunner (SUI) 2-0 (21-18, 22-20). Hüberli/Brunner (SUI)-Raupelyte/Paulikiene (LTU) 2-0 (21-18, 23-21), Ana Patrícia/Duda (BRA)-Tina/Anastasija (LAT) 2-1 (21-18, 14- 21, 15-10). 24/5 13: Ana Patrícia/Duda (BRA)-Raupelyte/Paulikiene (LTU), Tina/Anastasija (LAT)-Hüberli/Brunner (SUI)
MEN’S TOURNAMENT
Groups. Pool D. Evandro/Arthur (BRA)-Evans/Budinger (USA) 2-1 (17-21, 21-15, 15-13), George/Andre (BRA)-Pedrosa/Campos (POR) 2-0 ( 21-15, 21-16). Pedrosa/Campos (POR), Evans/Budinger (USA) 0-2 (17-21, 17-21), George/Andre (BRA)-Evandro/Arthur (BRA) 2-0 (21-16, 21-13 ). 24/5 19: George/Andre (BRA)-Evans/Budinger (USA), Evandro/Arthur (BRA)-Pedrosa/Campos (POR).
Pool C. Ehlers/Wickler (GER)-Nicolaidis/Carracher (AUS) 0-2 (14-21, 17-21), Boermans/de Groot (NED)-Bryl/Łosiak (POL) 0-2 (19-21 , 21-23). 5/24 12: Bryl/Łosiak (POL)-Nicolaidis/Carracher (AUS), Boermans/de Groot (NED)-Ehlers/Wickler (GER). 20: Boermans/de Groot (NED)-Nicolaidis/Carracher (AUS), Ehlers/Wickler (GER)-Bryl/Łosiak (POL)
Pool B. Cottafava/Nicolai (ITA)-Hodges/Schubert (AUS) 0-2 (16-21, 20-22), Perusic/Schweiner (CZE)-Cherif/Ahmed (QAT) 2-0 (25-23, 21-18). Cherif/Ahmed (QAT)-Hodges/Schubert (AUS) 2-1 (21-18, 17-21, 15-9), Perusic/Schweiner (CZE)-Cottafava/Nicolai (ITA) 1-2 (11-21 , 21-12, 13-15). 24/5 15: Perusic/Schweiner (CZE)-Hodges/Schubert (AUS), Cottafava/Nicolai (ITA)-Cherif/Ahmed (QAT).
Pool A. Today 15: van de Velde/Immers (NED)-Mol/Berntsen (NOR) 2-1 (21-23, 21-18, 15-12), Ahman/Hellvig (SWE)-Partain/Benesh (USA ) 2-0 (21-16, 23-21). 24/5 11: Partain/Benesh (USA)-Mol/Berntsen (NOR), Åhman/Hellvig (SWE)-van de Velde/Immers (NED). 16: Åhman/Hellvig (SWE)-Mol/Berntsen (NOR), van de Velde/Immers (NED)-Partain/Benesh (USA)
