Long Beach Grand Slam makes successful comeback to World Tour

For the first time in a decade the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour returned to the United States for the double-gender Grand Slam that was held from July 22 to 27 in Long Beach, California.

The Grand Slam in Southern California was the tenth FIVB event ever held in the United States, the fifth in Southern California and the first since the Tour visited a USA Olympic Training Center in Carson, California in 2003.

Capturing gold in the men’s competition was the home team of Sean Rosenthal and Phil Dalhausser, while the women’s top prize went to Brazil’s Taiana Lima and Talita Antunes.

Men’s competition

Meeting for just the second time on the FIVB World Tour, USA’s fourth-seeded Sean Rosenthal/Phil Dalhausser powered past Spain’s 14th-seeded Pablo Herrera/Adrian Gavira in two sets  2-0 (21-15, 21-18) in a 45-minute finale. 

Italy’s Nicolai Paolo/Daniele Lupo completed the podium with their bronze medal win after beating host nation favourites top-seeded Jake Gibb/Casey Patterson 2-0 (21-16, 21-13) in 37 minutes.

Women’s competition

Meeting for the fourth time on the FIVB World Tour, Brazil’s No. 2-seeded Taiana Lima/Talita Antunes took their fourth consecutive three-set match in the tournament and the gold medal when they beat Brazil’s No. 4-seeded sisters Maria Clara Salgado/Carolina Salgado 2-1 (20-22, 21-15, 15-13) in the 61-minute women’s finale.

Germany’s No. 7-seeded Katrin Holtwick/Ilka Semmler held off a great effort by USA’s No. 15-seeded Emily Day/Summer Ross to earn the bronze medal in straight sets 2-0 (21-18, 25-23) in 39 minutes.