Olympians Sweep Gold At AVP San Francisco Open

AVP San Francisco Open 2016

U.S. Olympic beach volleyball teams Kerri Walsh/April Ross and Jake Gibb/Casey Patterson swept gold at the 2016 AVP San Francisco Open.

AVP San Francisco Open 2016 winners Jake Gibb (left) and Casey Patterson (right) 

Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson who beated John Mayer/Stafford Slick 2-1 (16-21, 21-17, 15-13) at men's semi final, also won over Taylor Crab/Trevor Crab 2-1 (18-21, 21-15, 15-10) in the final to be crowned as AVP San Francisco Open 2016 champions.

AVP San Francisco Open 2016 winners April Ross (left) and Kerri Walsh (right)

Kerri Walsh and April Ross won the women's final 2-0 (21-17, 21-13) to take gold over Kelly Claes and Sara Hughes.

Kerri Walsh is blocking during the women's final  

April Ross is stretching during the 2016 AVP San Francisco Open

AVP 2016 Tour will continue with Manhattan Beach Open on 14-17 of July.

photo source: avp.com

Throwback : CEV Continental Cup Final 2012 - Epic Comeback from Horrem and Eithun

The Norwegian team is celebrating their victory at Alanya, 2012

Four years ago, at nowadays (24.06.2012) before London 2012 Olympic Games , CEV Beach Volleyball Continental Cup Final 2012 was held on the sands of Alanya, Turkey.

At the final game , teams from Norway and  Netherlands was looking for a ticket off to London.

The Netherlands led with 2-1 matches and one set to zero on the fourth encounter.

Horrem is attacking against Meeuwsen of Netherlands 

But Norwegian team Horrem and Eithun came back strongly and won the second set (21-19) and tie-break (15-13) against Brouwer-Meeuwsen of Netherlands.

Horrem and Eithun is celebrating a point

Iver Andreas Horrem is celebrating during the final game at Alanya, 2012

Also they won the golden set 16-14 against Boersma-Spijkers of Netherlands to book a place at the London 2012 Olympic Games. 

Brouwer-Meeuwsen is disappointed but now they have already qualified for Rio 2016 and they are one of the strongest team in the Word Tour Tour.

Skarlund and Spinnangr represented Norway at London 2012 Olympic Games.

Horrem and Eithun are now looking for Olympic berth on their homesands Stavanger during the CEV Continental Cup Final 2016 on 22-26th of June.


photos by me ;

Throwback: Interview with Pedro Solberg - 'Rio is the biggest dream I have'

Pedro Solberg is celebrating during a semi final game at FIVB World Championships 2015

Pedro Solberg from Brazil will represent his country at Rio 2016 Olympic Games with his partner Evandro Goncalves.

Pedro Solberg (right) and Evandro Goncalves (left)

Pedro and his partner Evandro took bronze medal at FIVB World Championships 2015 and Pedro Solberg was awarded as best scorer of the tournament.

Pedro and Evandro is celebrating after bronze medal game at  FIVB World Championships 2015

Pedro Solberg with his best scorer award at FIVB World Championships 2015

I have done an interview with him during last years FIVB Beach Volley World Championships 2015 in Netherlands. (03.07.2015)

photos and interview by me 

Turkey Is Looking For Olympic Berth In Stavanger

Murat Giginoğlu (left) and Volkan Göğtepe of Turkey (photo by me)

The final stage of CEV Beach Volleyball Continental Cup Final will start tomorrow at Stavanger. 

16  countries per gender from Europe will try to secure a place for their country for Rio 2016 Olympic Games. 

You can see the schedule of this tournament which will held 22-26 of June at Stavanger. 

CEV Continental Cup Final 2016 Bracket

Turkish men teams are looking for olympic berth at this city of oil and beach volleyball of Norway. 

General View of Stavanger (photo source CEV)

Murat Giginoglu and Volkan Gögtepe will be the first team according to World Rankings who representing Turkey. Sefa Urlu and Hasan Hüseyin Mermer will trying to help them for qualification for Rio as part of the Continental Cup format.

Women matches will start 22th and men matches will start 23th of June , For the men and women results please click over genders;

Four years ago at men's side teams from Norway won this tournament at Alanya for London 2012 Olympic Games.

Team Norway won the men's CEV Continental Cup Final in Alanya in 2012 (photo by me)

Winner of this tournament per gender will earn one quota place for their country for Rio 2016 Olympic Games. 

Second and third teams per gender will also try their last chance at FIVB World Continental Cup (Olympic Qualification) on 06-10th of July in Sochi for the last two tickets of Rio 2016.

Kerri Walsh / April Ross and Phil Dalhausser / Nick Lucena crowned the champs of AVP New York City Open 2016

General view at AVP New York City Open 2016 

Avp New York City Open 2016 event which was held in Manhatton's Hudson River Park - Pier 25-26 on 16-19 th of June, concluded with the victory of U.S. olympic beach volley teams.

Phil Dalhausser is serving during AVP New York City Open 2016

At men's final Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena beated Sean Rosenthal and Jeremy Casebeer in two sets, 21-19, 21-12 and won AVP New York City Open 2016 tittle.

Dalhausser and Lucena with their AVP New York City Open 2016 title

The duo also played a great event and won gold medal at FIVB Hamburg Major Series during 07-12 th of June.

At women's final Kerri Walsh and April Ross took down Summer Ross and Lane Carico by 2-0 (21-16, 21-18).

Kerri Walsh and April Ross with their AVP New York City Open 2016 title (photo: Tom Hilton)

With this result Kerri Walsh took her 76 th AVP title while April Ross took her 26th AVP title a day before her 32. birthday. (April Ross: 20.06.1982)

Champagne time for Kerri Walsh and April Ross at the end of AVP New York City Open 2016 

For the other results and informations about AVP New York City Open please click here ;

photo source ; instagram : avpbeach

Who Has Qualified For Rio 2016 Olympic Games So Far?

Beach Volleyball at Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be taking place on the sands of  Coppacabana on August 06-18. 24 men and 24 women teams will be playing at this iconic beach for gold medal.

According the Olympic qualification system approved by the IOC,  the 18 team of 24 per gender is clear by the 13 th of June.

1 team Host Country Vacancy (Brasil)
1 team Vacancy for 2015 World Champions (Brasil)
15 teams according the World Tour Rankings by 13th of June respecting the max. of 2 (two) quota per country, per gender.
1 team winners of CAVB Continental Cup per gender (Tunisia men and Egypt women teams)

You can see the teams who qualified for Rio 2016 by World Tour rankings, in the below or by clicking here for men or for women ;

Olympic Rankings for Women as of 13 th of June

Olympic Rankings for Men as of 13 th of June

I want to add my photos and video for the last two country's who have qualified according the World Tour Rankings,

For Women's side ; 

16 - Gallay/Klug (ARG)

Team Gallay/Klug (Argentina) during FIVB Antalya Open 2016

17- Wang/Yue (CHN)

Team Wang/Yue (China) during FIVB World Championships 2015

For Men's side ; 

16 - Schalk/Saxton (CAN)

Team Schalk/Saxton (Canada) during FIVB World Championships 2015

17 - Virgen/Ontiveros (MEX) 

Team Virgen/Ontiveros (Mexico) during FIVB World Championships 2015

The other 4 teams per gender will be determined after Beach Volleyball Continental Cup (Continental Final) on June 22-26

The last 2 teams per gender will be clear after FIVB World Continental Cup (Olympic Qualification) on 06-10 June 2016 at Sochi.

Julius Brink Took Olympic Newcomers To Reeperbahn Of Hamburg

Selfie with Julius Brink at mixed zone in The Hague

I met with Julius Brink (London 2012 gold medalist) during the last years FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships 2015 in Netherlands.

He retired after playing some tournaments in 2013. Now he is outside the court but still inside beach volleyball and also he is ambassador of Swatch Major Events.

2012 Olympic Champion Julius Brink took olympic newcomers Adrian Carambula (Mr.Skyball) and Alex Ranghieri (The Net Patroller) to Reeperbahn before Hamburg Major Event. Italian duo discovered the red-light district of Hamburg.

For behind the scene of this video you can visit official Facebook page of Ranghieri/Carambula 

CEV European Championship Final 2016 Biel/Bienne - Final Day - 5th of June

German's Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst photo by CEV 

We woke up a sunny day @Biel/Bienne in the final day of CEV European Championship Final.

Although rainy weather came back in a short time, the atmosphere at the tribunes was smiliar with last years FIVB World Championships 2015 in Netherlands.

The Mens semi final results was ;

Nicolai/Lupo ITA [6]

-   Brouwer/Meeuwsen NED [2]

2-1 (12-21, 21-16, 15-10)

Semenov/Krasilnikov RUS [10]

-  Fijalek/Prudel POL [12]

2-0 (21-17, 21-17)

Russia's Viacheslav Krasilnikov celebrates during a semi final game against Poland photo by CEV

                                 
Womens final was between last years CEV European champion Ludwig-Walkenhorst (GER) and the real sensation of this years EuroBeachVolley, Slukova-Hermannova (CZE). And also we can say that last years FIVB Antalya Open 2015 champions Slukova-Hermannova (CZE) faced with this years FIVB Antalya Open 2016 champions Ludwig-Walkenhorst (GER).

German's Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst celebrates photo by CEV

Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst controlled the final from start to end and won by 2-0 (21-14, 21-15). With this result German's Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst crowned as CEV European Champions second time in a row.

German's Borger-Büthe claimed the bronze medal match with Russians Birlova-Ukolova 2-0 (22-20, 21-17) to complete the womens podium

German's Borger-Büthe won the bronze medal at Biel/Bienne photo by CEV

At mens final Italians Lupo-Nicolai won over Russians Semenov-Krasilnikov with a tie-break. 2-1 (21-15, 13-21, 15-12)

The podium placements at Biel/Bienne was ;

Mens ;

1- Nicolai/Lupo (ITA)
2- Semenov-Krasilnikov (RUS)
3- Fijalek-Prudel (POL)

Results on the wall of central court

Womens ;

1- Ludwig/Walkenhorst (GER)
2- Slukova/Hermannova (CZE)
3- Borger/Buthe (GER)

Empty tribunes after awarding ceremony,

Beer time after awarding ceremony next to lake Biel,

Beautiful lake Biel,

2017 edition of  CEV European Championship Final will be taking place at Jurmala and Riga , Latvia on the third week of August.

So bye to Biel until next time,

CEV European Championship Final 2016 Biel/Bienne - Day 4 - Part 2

We were like ghosts at the tribunes of Biel/Bienne under the rain

Despite the rainy weather we were at the tribunes for mens quarter final games. All four matches went to decider.

Last years European Champions Samoilovs-Smedins from Latvia didn't secure their title and lost against Semenov-Krasilnikov from Russia 1-2 (17-21, 21-19, 12-15)

One of the most exciting games of mens quarter finals is between Fijalek-Prudel (POL) and Ingrosso-Ingrosso (ITA). Last years European Championship finalists Fijalek-Prudel took the game against last years Biel/Bienne Masters winners with 2-1 (21-19, 19-21, 20-18).

Picteresque view of centre court on the shores of lake Biel, smoky green hill makes background 

The other results of mens quarter finals are ;

Nummerdor/Varenhorst NED [1]

Brouwer/Meeuwsen NED [2]

1-2 (21-18, 19-21, 12-15)

Herrera/Gavira ESP [5]

Nicolai/Lupo ITA [6]

1-2 (21-23, 23-21, 12-15)

Sorry I have no photos from womens semi final matches but I have a video from Saturday night party at the venue.

CEV European Championship Final 2016 Biel/Bienne - Day 4 - Part 1

The bridges that connects side courts and centre court area at Biel

I have started to follow mens Round 2 games on the day 4 of CEV European Championship Final 2016

Brouwer/Meeuwsen NED [2] -

Böckermann/Flüggen GER [11]

2-0 (21-14, 21-17)

and 

Doppler/Horst AUT [3]

-  Herrera/Gavira ESP [5]

0-2 (18-21, 11-21)

matches were not too exciting according to my expects. 

On the quarter final at womens side there was an important game according to olympic rankings, 

Borger - Büthe (GER) faced with their compatriots Holtwick-Semmler (GER)

Even Holtwick-Semmler came back from 17-20 at second set , they lost their rivals for Rio with a 15-13 tie-break. 

Holtwick-Semmler's comeback from 17-20 in the second set

Holtwick - Semmler ' s  last chance for Rio will be Hamburg Major Event between 07-12 of June before 13 of June deadline. 

Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst had already guaranteed Rio for Germany.

At another quarter final game at womens side Slukova-Hermannova (CZE) won over Netherlands Meppelink-Van Iersel 2-0 (21-17, 21-16)

Slukova-Hermannova (CZE) and Netherlands Meppelink and her coach Angie Akers (USA) is warming up

During the matches please look at the competition between Italy's Marta Menegatti and Viktoria Orsi Toth, Do you think who was the the winner ?

  

   By the way 'The Beach Train' brings us from the Biel/Bienne train station to the stadium. 

The Beach Train of CEV European Championship Final 2016