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Beach volleyball 24/08/2013

Swiss Tanja’s surprise Germany’s Borger and Büthe

Moscow,
Russia, August 24, 2013 – With strong serving and solid play Swiss Tanja
Goricanec and Tanja Hüberli, ranked 29th at the FIVB Moscow Grand Slam,
surprised Germany’s vice-world champions Karla Borger and Britta Büthe on
Saturday.

Goricanec and Hüberli, who came all the way from qualifications, won the second
elimination round match 2-1 (17-21 21-11 15-12) and moved straight up to the
quarterfinals. By far their best result ever.

“Actually, it was a little bit of a surprise”, Goricanec said. “Because they
are much higher in the ranking. But I think we served really well and their
reception was under pressure and we also had a good block-defence. So we are
really happy.”

Only in main draw once

So far Goricanec and Hüberli’s best result was 9th at the Anapa Open this year.

“I was only in main draw once and that was because of a wild card”, Hüberli
said. In Gstaad they reached 25th place. “This is the first time we qualified
for the main draw on our own strength at a grand slam. We were in the main draw
in Anapa, but here the level is much higher.”

The Swiss girls lost the first set to Germany, but came back strong. “We had
nothing to lose and just wanted to play after the first set”, Hüberli said.

“We knew we had to be a bit better in the reception because they served really
well. And after that the game turned, and we started to serve really well. We
are just happy and want to play one more game tonight and let’s see what that
will bring.”

Goricanec and Hüberli finished second in their pool on Friday. In the first
elimination round they defeated USA’s Summer Ross and Kelly Schumacher 2-0
(21-16 21-10).

Next opponent: Spain

In the quarterfinal they are up against Spain’s 11th seeded Liliana Fernandez
Steiner and Elsa Baquerizo McMillan.

“We have nothing to lose”, Goricanec said. “We just have to play our own game
and serve well and then we will see.” Hüberli: “We just want to play and then
who knows.”

FIVB
Moscow Grand Slam Tournament Page

FIVB
Moscow Grand Slam Men’s Main Draw

FIVB
Moscow Grand Slam Women’s Main Draw

FIVB Moscow Grand Slam Twitter Account

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