Lucerne, Switzerland, May 13, 2015 - Ask the Finnish twins Erika and Emilia Nyström about their big experience, the big enemy “daily business”, and why their special team play can be a big benefit to make the elimination stage.
Finland is a Volleyball nation; yes, they really are - even though the majority just associate “Suomi”, how the country is called in Finnish, with sauna, winter, and ice hockey.
The Northern European country has got one of the most experienced Beach Volleyball teams on the FIVB World Tour: Emilia and Erika have played at 156 FIVB tournaments - an incredible record. “After such a number of tournaments you know how it is to play with our backs against the wall - you are cool enough. That’s a big advantage,” Emilia is sure.
After over ten years in international Beach Volleyball though there’s a big opponent for the two Finns from Jyvaskyla: the so-called ‘daily routine’. “It’s not always easy. Since we’ve played at more than 150 tournaments, we have to avoid the sensation of just doing ‘daily business’ – that’s dangerous in Beach Volleyball,” Erika says.
Even after ten years in the international Beach Volleyball scene, the Finnish twins are just happy to live their passion together. “I’ve never played with someone else than my sister. I couldn’t even imagine how it’s to play with another Beach Volleyball partner – we’ve got a mutual understanding and enjoy every minute,” Erika explains and adds: “Beach Volleyball has been even more important to us since Emilia moved to Cyprus; it’s the only way to spend time together.”
Emilia, on the other hand, thinks that it would be quite difficult with someone else on her side than her sister. “We talk like sisters on the court – even with some bad words in Finnish when we get angry, but we are used to it and know that is no offense; that’s just the way we are – and since nobody else understands Finnish, it’s ok”, Emilia admits smiling.
Erika, on the other hand, knows that it’s not easy as national Beach Volleyball player in Finland. “Although Finland has got beautiful summer seasons, the majority of the Finns don’t believe that there’s professional Beach Volleyball in our country.” Nevertheless, the Finnish twins still have one big dream: “We are poised to represent Finland at the Olympics, even though it’s quite difficult to make it; Finland is a small country on the Beach Volleyball map.”
First of all, the Finns have to focus now on their group games at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Lucerne Open 2015 where they made the Main Draw after two big wins in the qualifiers. “It’s a really strong Main Draw at the inaugural Lucerne Open. We are keen to play our best Beach Volleyball, but it’s a big challenge,” Erika explains. After a bitter 0:2 (11-21, 10-21) defeat in the first group game, Erika and Emilia have to do it better in the next two games.