Lucerne, Switzerland, May 14, 2015 – Swiss youngsters Nina Betschart and Nicole Eiholzer make their FIVB World League debut only a few kilometres away from home.Back-to-back gold at the under-20 European Champs 2013/2014, bronze at the Under-22 CEV European Championship and the fourth place at the Under-21 World Championship in Larnaka last year.
Nina Betschart and Nicole Eiholzer are without a doubt Switzerland’s beach volleyball stars of tomorrow.After the big successes at European and international junior’s tournaments the Swiss youngsters are ready to prove themselves in the international women’s beach volleyball circus – and the two girls from Steinhausen, a little village on the shores of Lake Zug, chose the right moment to fight for a berth in international senior’s beach volleyball. “We grew up only 30 kilometres away from the stadium – and used to go to school here in Lucerne. I can even see it from the stadium since it’s on the other side of the lake,” Nina Betschart tells.Furthermore, the two Swiss youngsters are sure that some supporters in the stands will be very important at their debut in the international senior’s beach volleyball: “It’s not only our first-ever FIVB World Tour tournament as team, but we also play in front of our families and friends. That’s just amazing since they normally can’t come to our tourneys abroad,” Nicole Eiholzer explains and adds: “I’m so happy that they all came to watch our games.”
Unsurprisingly, the two rising stars from Switzerland had a lot to do after their group stage games –friends and family member hogged them to chat and wished the best for the tournament.It’s an important year for Nina Betschart and Nicole Eiholzer – and the Swiss are poised to fight for a berth in international women’s beach volleyball. “We’ve planned to play at various FIVB World Tour events this year in the hope of making the Main Draw,” Nicole Eiholzer tells and adds: “We know that we have to work hard, but we are ready.”Despite big efforts and good games at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Lucerne Open 2015, Nina Betschart and Nicole Eiholzer had to suffer a setback in their FIVB World Tour debut: the Swiss couldn’t make the elimination stage. Nevertheless, Nina Betschart isn’t disappointed. “We are a young team and that’s our first year in the FIVB World Tour. Of course we want to win every game, but on the other hand, we know we need time and have to focus to get more experience,” Betschart concludes.