Lausanne, Switzerland, July 17, 2017 - The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) held the 15th event overall on the 2017 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour calendar last week, the women’s FIVB Daegu tournament in Korea. There have now been 10 men’s events and 14 women’s tournaments so far on the 2017 FIVB World Tour.
The FIVB also presented the 2017 FIVB U21 Beach Volleyball World Championships in Nanjing, China last week.
Last week in Daegu, a team from Japan won the women’s gold medal in Korea with teams from Thailand and the Czech Republic earning the silver and bronze medals. The men had the week off from the FIVB World Tour. Team’s from Brazil won both gold medals at the FIVB U21 World Championships, the sixth team the South American country has accomplished that feat.
This week, the 2017 FIVB World Tour calendar will see three events, two double-gender and one women’s only. The double-gender FIVB Olsztyn tournament will be held in Poland (July 19-23) while the women’s FIVB Ulsan tournament will be played in Korea (July 20-22) and the double-gender FIVB Agadir tournament will be held in Morocco (July 21-23).
FIVB DAEGU WOMEN
Winning the women’s gold medal at the women’s FIVB Daegu 1-Star tournament with a 4-0 match record was Japan’s top-seeded Miki Ishii/Megumi Murakami who held off Thailand’s second-seeded Varapatsorn Radarong/Tanarattha Udomchavee in three sets, 2-1 (21-14, 15-21, 17-15) in 51 minutes. Playing in just their eighth tournament as a team, it was the first career FIVB gold medal for both Ishii and Murakami as a team and individually as well.
Earning the women’s bronze medal in Daegu was Czech Republic’s 13th-seeded Katerina Valkova/Diana Zolnercikova who defeated Germany’s 14th-seeded Lisa Arnholdt/Leonie Welsch in straight sets 2-0 (21-14, 24-22) in 33 minutes. For both teams, it was their first FIVB World Tour event as a team and obviously the first final four finish for both squads.
To reach the women’s gold medal match in Daegue from their respective semifinals, Japan’s Ishii/Murakami came from behind to defeat Czech Republic’s Valkova/Zolnercikova in three sets, 2-1 (15-21, 21-14, 15-10) in 45 minutes and Thailand’s Radarong/Udomchavee swept Germany’s Arnholdt/Welsch in two sets, 2-0 (21-14, 24-22) in just 30 minutes.
Japan’s Miki Ishii was selected as the Most Outstanding Player of the women’s FIVB Daegu 1-Star.
FIVB U21 MEN
Winning the men’s gold medal at the FIVB U21 Beach Volleyball World Championships in Nanjing, China with an unblemished 7-0 match record was Brazil’s second-seeded Adrielson Dos Santos/Renato Lima who stopped Russia’s seventh-seeded Aleksandr Kramarenko/Vasilii Ivanov in straight sets, 2-0 (22-20, 21-17) in 40 minutes. It was the second FIVB U21 World Championship gold medal for Renato. It is the sixth gold medal and 12th final four finish for Brazil in the FIVB U21 World Championships, highs in both categories.
Earning the men’s bronze medal in Nanjing was Latvia’s 19th-seeded Kristaps Smits/Mihails Samoilovs who beat Austria’s 32nd-seeded qualifiers Moritz Kindl/Marian Klaffinger in twin straight sets, 2-0 (21-17, 21-17) in 37 minutes.
In the Nanjing men’s semifinals, Brazil’s Dos Santos/Renato advanced to the gold medal match by defeating Latvia’s Smits/Samoilovs in straight sets, 2-0 (21-15, 21-16) in 35 minutes and Russia’s Kramarenko/Ivanov advanced by beating Austria’s Kindl/Klaffinger, 2-0 (21-11, 21-17) in 34 minutes.
Brazil’s Renato Lima was selected as the men’s Most Outstanding Player of the 2017 FIVB U21 Beach Volleyball World Championships.
Brazil's
Renato Lima, right, was selected as the men's Most Outstanding Player
of last week's FIVB U21 Beach Volleyball World Championships
FIVB U21 WOMEN
Winning the women’s gold medal at the women’s 2017 FIVB U21 FIVB World Championships in Nanjing with an impressive 7-0 match record, winning 14 of 15 sets, was Brazil’s second-seeded Eduarda ‘Duda’ Lisboa/Ana Patricia Silva who toppled Russia’s third-seeded Nadezda Makroguzova/Svetlana Kholomina in straight sets, 2-0 (21-15, 21-13) in just 31 minutes.
In a rematch of last year’s U21 title match, Brazil’s Duda/Ana Patricia won the gold medal again. A regular on the FIVB World Tour this year with Agatha Bednarczuk, Duda now has six age-group championships, three U19 titles, two U21 crowns as well as winning the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing with Ana Patricia.
Earning the women’s bronze medal in Nanjing, USA’s fifth-seeded Kathryn Plummer/Milica Mirkovic defeated Italy’s Gaia Traballi/Ester Maestroni in straight sets 2-0 (21-7, 21-19) in only 29 minutes.
To reach the women’s gold medal match in Nanjing from their respective semifinals, Brazil’s Duda/Ana Patricia defeated USA’s Plummer/Mirkovic in two sets, 2-0 (21-19, 21-16) in 32 minutes and Russia’s Makroguzova/Kholomina swept Italy’s Traballi/Maestroni in two sets, 2-0 (24-22, 21-19) in 38 minutes.
Brazil’s Eduarda ‘Duda’ Lisboa was selected as the women’s Most Outstanding Player of the 2017 FIVB U21 Beach Volleyball World Championships.
Brazil's Eduarda 'Duda' Lisboa, left, was picked as the women's Most Outstanding Player at the FIVB U21 World Championships
MEN’S RANKINGS
After 10 men’s events on the 2017 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, USA’s Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena lead the ranking with 3,600, second are Alvaro Filho/Saymon Barbosa with 3,460 points and third are Poland’s Piotr Kantor/Bartosz Losiak with 3,378 points.
MEN’S EARNINGS
In the 2017 FIVB World Tour men’s earnings after 10 events, USA’s Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena duo has moved to the top of the money list with $78,000 in four events with two gold medals. Second is Brazil’s Saymon Barbosa/Alvaro Filho with $76,000 in six events with one gold medal, third is Italy’s Daniele Lupo/Paolo Nicolai with $72,500 in seven events, fourth is Poland’s Piotr Kantor/Bartosz Losiak with $71,000 in six events and fifth this week is Brazil’s Evandro Goncalves/Andre Loyola with $63,500 in six events.
Tied for sixth this week with $63,000 each in earnings are Brazil’s Alison Cerutti/Bruno Oscar Schmidt in five events with one gold medal and Brazil’s Gustavo ‘Guto’ Carvalhaes/Pedro Solberg in six events with one gold medal. Eighth is Russia’s Viacheslav Krasilnikov/Nikita Liamin with $60,100 in eight events with two gold medals, ninth is Russia’s Oleg Stoyanovskiy/Artem Yarzutkin with $42,700 in seven events, 10th is USA’s Taylor Crabb/Jake Gibb with $39,000 in five events, 11th is Spain’s Adrian Gavira/Pablo Herrera with $47,000 in six events and 12th is Poland’s Michal Bryl/Grzegorz Fijalek with $36,500 in six events.
WOMEN’S RANKINGS
For the women after 14 events on the 2017 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, Brazil’s Talita Antunes/Larissa Franca duo is at the top of the current women’s FIVB World Rankings with 4,300 points, second is Gemany’s Chantal Laboureur/Julia Sude with 4,240 points and third is Czech Republic’s Barbora Hermannova/Marketa Slukova with 3,580 points.
WOMEN’S EARNINGS
In the 2017 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour women’s earnings after 14 events, Brazil’s Talita Antunes/Larissa Franca duo continues in the top spot with $103,000 in six events with two gold medals, second is Canada’s Sarah Pavan/Melissa Humana-Paredes with $82,000 in five events with one gold medal, third is Brazil’s Agatha Bednarczuk/Eduarda ‘Duda’ Lisboa, with $80,000 in earnings in six events with one gold medal, fourth is Germany’s Chantal Laboureur/Julia Sude with $78,500 in six events with one gold medal and fifth is Czech Republic’s Barbora Hermannova/Marketa Slukova with $66,000 in six events.
Sixth in earnings this week is Brazil’s Fernanda Alves/Barbara Seixas with $55,500 in seven events with one gold medal, seventh is Switzerland’s Joana Heidrich/Anouk Verge-Depre with $45,000 in five events, eighth is Switzerland’s Nina Betschart/Tanja Huberli with $38,000 in six events, ninth is USA’s Summer Ross/Brooke Sweat with $37,000 in five events, 10th is Czech Republic’s Kristyna Kolocova/Michala Kvapilova with $35,100 in five events, 11th is Germany’s Victoria Bieneck/Isabel Schneider with $34,000 in seven events and 12th is Brazil’s Taiana Lima/Elize Maia with $32,000 in six events.
MEN’S FINAL FOURS
After 10 men’s tournaments on the 2017 FIVB World Tour regular season schedule, 16 countries have at least one final four placement. Leading with seven final four placements is Brazil (three gold medals, one silver medal, two bronze medals, one fourth place finish) while tied for second with six final fours each are Russia (two gold medals, one silver medal, two bronze medals, one fourth place finish) and the United States (two gold medals, one bronze medal, three fourth place finishes). Tied for fourth with four final four placements each are Poland (three silver medals, one bronze medal) and Italy (two silver medals, two bronze medals).
Tied for sixth with two final four placements each are Australia (one gold medal, one silver medal) and Germany (two fourth place finishes). Tied for eighth with one final four placement each are Austria (one silver medal), Cuba (one gold medal), Estonia (one bronze medal), Latvia (one fourth place finish), Netherlands (one gold medal), New Zealand (one bronze medal), Serbia (one fourth place finish), Spain (one silver medal) and Switzerland (one fourth place finish).
WOMEN’S FINAL FOURS
After 14 women’s FIVB World Tour events to date on the 2017 calendar, 15 countries have earned at least one final four finish. Leader in final four placements with 13 is Brazil (six gold medals, two silver medals, two bronze medals, three fourth place finishes) and second with nine is Germany (one gold medal, two silver medals, two bronze medals, four fourth place finishes). Third with six final four finishes is Canada (three gold medals, one silver medal, one bronze medal, one fourth place finish), fourth with five final fours is the Czech Republic (two silver medals, two bronze medals, one fourth place finish) while tied for ffifth with four final fours each are China (one gold medal, three silver medals) and the United States (two gold medals, one silver medal, one fourth place finish).
Tied for seventh with three final fours are Australia (one silver medal, two bronze medals) and Switzerland (one silver medal, one bronze medal, one fourth place finish). Tied for ninth with two each are Austria (one bronze medal, one fourth place finish) and Lithuania (two bronze medals) and tied for 11th with one final four placement each are Greece (one bronze medal), Japan (one gold medal), New Zealand (one fourth place), Russia (one fourth place finish) and Thailand (one silver medal).
MEN’S WINNING PERCENTAGE
Based on percentage, statistically, in men’s action after 10 events on the 2017 FIVB World Tour calendar with a minimum of 10 matches played, leading at 88.0% is USA’s Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena (22-3), second at 76.7% is Brazil’s Saymon Barbosa/Alvaro Filho (23-7), third at 75.9% is Brazil’s Alison Cerutti/Bruno Oscar Schmidt (22-7), fourth at 72.7% is Brazil’s Gustavo ‘Guto’ Carvalhaes/Pedro Solberg (24-9) and fifth at 71.4% is
Netherlands’ Alexander Brouwer/Robert Meeuwsen (15-6).
Tied for sixth at 70.3% are Italy’s Daniele Lupo/Paolo Nicolai (26-11) and Russia’s Viacheslav Krasilnikov/Nikita Liamin (26-11). Eighth this week at 69.2% is Spain’s Adrian Gavira/Pablo Herrera (18-8), ninth at 65.5% is Poland’s Piotr Kantor/Bartosz Losiak (19-10) and 10th at 65.2% is Austria’s Clemmen Dopler/Alexander Horst (15-8).
MEN’S MATCH WINS
With 26 match wins each this season through 10 events on the 2017 FIVB World Tour, co-leading this category are Italy’s Daniele Lupo/Paolo Nicolai (26-11) and Russia’s Viacheslav Krasilnikov/Nikita Liamin (26-11), third with 24 match wins is Brazil’s Gustavo ‘Guto’ Carvalhaes (24-9), fourth with 23 match wins is Brazil’s Saymon Barbosa/Alvaro Filho (23-7) and tied for fifth with 22 match wins each are USA’s Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena (22-3) and Brazil’s Alison Cerutti/Bruno Oscar Schmidt (22-7).
Seventh with 19 wins so far on the 2017 FIVB World Tour is Poland’s Piotr Kantor/Bartosz Losiak (19-10), eighth with 18 match wins is Spain’s Adrian Gavira/Pablo Herrera (18-8), ninth with 17 match wins is Russia’s Oleg Stoyanovskiy/Artem Yarzutkin (17-14) and 10th with 16 match wins is Brazil’s Evandro Goncalves/Andre Loyola (16-13).
WOMEN’S WINNING PERCENTAGE
Based on percentage, statistically, in women’s action after 14 events on the 2017 FIVB World Tour calendar with a minimum of 14 matches played, the leader at 82.8% is Canada’s Melissa Humana-Paredes/Sarah Pavan (24-5), second at 82.4% is Brazil’s Talita Antunes/Larissa Franca (28-6), third at 78.9% is Brazil’s Maria Antonelli/Carolina Salgado (15-4), fourth at 75.9% is Czech Republic’s Barbora Hermannova/Marketa Slukova (22-7) and fifth at 74.3% is Brazil’s Agatha Bednarczuk/Eduarda ‘Duda’ Lisboa (26-9).
Sixth at 71.0% is Germany’s Chantal Laboureur/Julia Sude (22-9), seventh at 65.8% is Brazil’s Fernanda Alves/Barbara Seixas (25-13), eighth at 63.6% is Australia’s Louise Bawden/Taliqua Clancy (14-8), ninth at 62.5% is Brazil’s Taiana Lima/Elize Maia (15-9) and 10th at 61.5% is Switzerland’s Joana Heidrich/Anouk Verge-Depre (16-10).
WOMEN’S MATCH WINS
For the women in match wins following 14 events on the 2017 FIVB calendar, the leader with 28 match wins is Brazil’s Talita Antunes/Larissa Franca (28-6), second with 26 match wins is Brazil’s Agatha Bednarczuk/Eduarda ‘Duda’ Lisboa (26-9), third with 25 wins is Brazil’s Fernanda Alves/Barbara Seixas (25-13), fourth with 24 match wins is Canada’s Melissa Humana-Paredes/Sarah Pavan (24-5) and tied for fifth with 22 match wins each are Czech Republic’s Barbora Hermannova/Marketa Slukova (22-7) and Germany’s Chantal Laboureur/Julia Sude (22-9).
Seventh with 17 match wins is Germany’s Victoria Bieneck/Isabel Schneider (15-10), tied for eighth with 16 match wins each are Switzerland’s Joana Heidrich/Anouk Verge-Depre (16-10) and USA’s Emily Day/Brittany Hochevar (16-11). Tied for 10th with 15 wins each are Brazil’s Maria Antonelli/Carolina Salgado (15-4), Brazil’s Taiana Lima/Elize Maia (15-9) and USA’s Summer Ross/Brooke Sweat (15-10).