Lausanne, Switzerland, October 13, 2015 — It’s a new year of sorts for the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) following last week’s season-opening event of the 2016 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour. With the qualifying process for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the forefront of the collective minds of the beach volleyball world, the 2015 portion of the 2016 FIVB World Tour now takes a week off before resuming the road to Rio with the double-gender $150,000 Antalya Open in Turkey to be held Oct. 20-25.
Last week saw teams from the United States win the men’s gold medal and Germany capture the women’s gold medal at the $150,000 FIVB Puerto Vallarta Open in Mexico. It was the second straight year for a tour stop in Mexico and the sixth overall event in Mexico for both men and women.
PUERTO VALLARTA MENIn the men’s competition last week in Fort Lauderdale, winning the gold medal with a magical 7-0 record was USA’s Nick Lucena/Phil Dalhausser. USA’s Lucena/Dalhausser won the gold medal match in straight sets over Netherlands’ Alexander Brouwer/Robert Meeuwsen, 21-12, 21-18 in 34 minutes. In just their eighth event as a team on the FIVB World Tour, it was their second gold medal. Individually, it was Dalhausser’s 31st career FIVB gold medal and the second for Lucena.
In the all-German bronze medal match, 22-year old twin brother duo ofBennet Poniewaz/David Poniewaz came from behind to win the medal over their more experienced compatriots Markus Bockermann/Lars Fluggen in three sets, 16-21, 21-18 and 15-12 in 66 minutes.
In the semifinals, USA’s Lucena/Dalhausser needed three sets by defeated Germany’s Bockermann/Fluggen in three sets, 21-10, 18-21 and 15-8 in 57 minutes while Netherlands’ Brouwer/Meeuwsen needed only two sets to defeat Germany’s Poniewaz brothers, 21-16, 21-17 in 37 minutes to advance to the gold medal match.
PUERTO VALLARTA WOMEN
In the women’s competition in Puerto Vallarta, Germany’s Laura Ludwig/Kira Walkenhorst with marched methodically through the competition with a perfect 7-0 record, winning the gold medal match over Brazil’s Eduarda Lisboa/Elize Maia, 21-18, 21-16 in 40 minutes. It was just the third time that a women’s team from Germany had defeated a team from Brazil in 16 FIVB international gold medal matches. It was the third FIVB World Tour title for both Ludwig and Walkenhorst and their third together.
In the women’s bronze medal match in Puerto, Italy’s Marta Menegatti/Viktoria Orsi Toth defeated Netherlands’ Sophie van Gestel/Jantine van der Vlist in two sets, 21-19, 21-15 in 44 minutes.
To reach the gold medal match with their semifinal victories, Germany’s Ludwig/Walkenhorst powered past Italy’s Menegatti/Orsi Toth in twin sets, 21-12, 21-18 in 38 minutes.
MEN’S WINNERS SHARE
Last week’s FIVB Puerto Vallarta Open men’s champions Lucena/Dalhausser of the United States picked the gold medal purse of $11,000. Netherlands’ runner-up Brouwer/Meeuwsen earned $8,000 in prize money while Germany’s bronze medalists B. Poniewaz/D. Poniewaz earned $6,000 and Germany’s Bockermann/Fluggen received $4,500 in prize money for their fourth place finish.
WOMEN’S WINNERS ROLL
Last week’s FIVB Puerto Vallarta Open women’s champions picked Ludwig/Walkenhorst of Germany, earned the winner’s $11,000 purse. Brazil’s Lisboa/Elize collected the runner-up $8,000 purse to split from their silver medal placement and Italy’s Menegatti/Orsi Toth earned $6,000 for their bronze medal finish. Netherlands’ fourth place finishers van Gestel/van der Vlist won $4,500 in prize money.
MEN’S POINTS/EARNINGS
After one event on the 2016 FIVB World Tour, USA’s Lucena/Dalhausser lead the FIVB World Tour point standings with 500 points. Netherlands’ Brouwer/Meeuwsen duo is second in the standings with 450. Third is Germany’s Poniewaz brothers with 400 points, fourth with 350 points is Germany’s Bockermann/Fluggen and tied for fifth with 300 points each are Austria’s Thomas Kunert/Christoph Dressler, Italy’s Alex Ranghieri/Adrian Carambula, Netherlands’ Reinder Nummerdor/Christiaan Varenhorst and USA’s John Hyden/Tri Bourne.
In the 2016 FIVB World Tour men’s season earnings after one events, USA’s Lucena/Dalhausser lead with $11,000 in prize winnings, followed in second by Netherlands’ Brouwer/Meeuwsen with $8,000 in earnings while third is Germany’s B. Poniewaz/D. Poniewaz with $6,000, Germany’s Bockermann/Fluggen duo is fourth with $4,500 and tied for fifth with $3,375 each are Austria’s Kunert/Dressler, Italy’s Ranghieri/Carambula, Netherlands’ Nummerdor/Varenhorst and USA’s Hyden/Bourne.
WOMEN’S POINTS/EARNINGS
For the women after one 2016 FIVB World Tour event, Germany’s Ludwig/Walkenhorst are at the top of the point list with 500 points, Brazil’s Lisboa/Elize Maia are second with 450 points with Italy’s Menegatti/Orsi Toth third with 400 points. Fourth is Netherlands Sophie van Gestel with 350 points. Tied for fifth with 300 points each are Argentina’s Ana Gallay/Georgina Klug, France’s Alexandra Jupiter/Laura Longuet, Japan’s Takemi Nishibori/Sayaka Mizoe and Vanuatu’s Miller Pata/Linline Matauatu.
In the 2016 FIVB World Tour women’s season earnings after one event, Germany’s Ludwig/Walkenhorst are in the top spot with $11,000 in earnings, Brazil’s Lisboa/Elize Maia duo is second with $8,000 with Italy’s Menegatti/Orsi Toth tandem third with $6,000. Fourth is Netherlands’ van Gestel/van der Vlist with $4,500 and tied for fifth with $3,375 each are Argentina’s Ana Gallay/Georgina Klug, France’s Alexandra Jupiter/Laura Longuet, Japan’s Takemi Nishibori/Sayaka Mizoe and Vanuatu’s Miller Pata/Linline Matauatu in 2016 FIVB earnings.
MEN’S FINAL FOURS
In one men’s tournament in 2016 on the FIVB competition, three countries have at least one final four placement. Leader with two final four placements is Germany (one bronze medal, one fourth place finish) and tied for second with one each is the Netherlands (one silver medal) and the United States (one gold medal).
WOMEN’S FINAL FOURS
In one women’s FIVB international events in 2016, four countries earned at least one final four finish. Tied at the top with a one final four placements each is Brazil (one silver medal), Germany (one gold medal), Italy (one bronze medal) and Netherlands (one fourth place finish).
MEN’S WINNING PERCENTAGE
Based on percentage, statistically, in men’s action after one event in 2016, the leader at 100.0% is USA’s Lucena/Dalhausser (7-0) while second at 85.7% Netherlands’ Brouwer/Meeuwsen (6-1) and tied for third at 80.0% each are USA’s Hyden/Bourne (4-1), Netherlands’ Nummerdor/Varenhorst (4-1) and Italy’s Ranghieri/Carambula (4-1).
USA’s Lucena/Dalhausser have the most match wins this season with seven (7-0) (60-12) and tied for second with six each are Germany’s B. Poniewaz/D. Poniewaz (6-3) and Netherlands’ Brouwer/Meeuwsen (6-1).
WOMEN’S WINNING PERCENTAGE
Based on percentage, statistically, in women’s action after one event in 2016, the leader at 100.0% is Germany’s Ludwig/Walkenhorst (7-0), while second at 84.7% is Italy’s Menegatti/Orsi Toth (6-1) and tied for third at 80.0% each are Vanuatu’s Miller/Matauatu (4-1) and Netherlands’ Rimke Braakman/Jolien Sinnema (4-1).
For the women, following a one event on the 2016 FIVB calendar, leading with seven is Germany’s Ludwig/Walkenhorst (7-0). Tied for second with six wins each so far are Brazil’s Lisboa/Elize Maia (6-2) and Italy’s Menegatti/Orsi Toth (6-1) while fourth with five wins is Netherlands’ van Gestel/van der Vlist (5-3).
ON THE HORIZON
Placement points for the FIVB Olympic Rankings for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games resumed last week at the double-gender $150,000 FIVB Puerto Vallarta Open in Mexico. After one week off, the 2015 portion of the 2016 FIVB World Tour concludes with the double gender $150,000 FIVB Antalya Open in Turkey (Oct. 20-15)and the men’s only $75,000 FIVB Doha Open in Qatar (Nov. 9-13).
GROWING HISTORY
The FIVB Antalya Open will be the 331st men’s tournament since the FIVB began play in 1987 and the 295th FIVB women’s tournament since they started competition in 1992.
FIVB 2015-2016
Based in Lausanne, Switzerland as the international governing body for the Olympic sports of Beach Volleyball and Volleyball, the 2015 FIVB Beach Volleyball calendar featured a record purse of US$9.6 million with a season that extended from late April to late September, competing at 20 venues in 15 countries. The schedule included five FIVB Grand Slams, the new Swatch FIVB Major Series of four events, four FIVB Opens and the special $500,000 Swatch FIVB World Tour Finals in the United States. A showcase event was the $1 million 2015 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in the Netherlands.
The 2015 portion of the 2016 FIVB World Tour calendar started in October in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and includes two more open events prior to the remainder of the schedule resuming after the first of the year.
The Olympic qualification process began in 2015 with all FIVB World Tour events (except the Swatch FIVB World Tour Finals) in 2015 up until June 13, 2016 counting towards the Olympic Ranking in order to determine 15 spots for each gender that will take part in each 24-team field in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games on Copacabana Beach in Brazil.
FIVB WORLD TOUR PURSES
The FIVB Grand Slam and Swatch FIVB Major Series competitions, all double-gender each have $800,000 in total purses. The total purse FIVB World Championships the Netherlands 2015 was $1,000,000 and $500,000 will be the total for the Swatch FIVB World Tour Season Final which will feature the top eight teams in each gender and two wild card teams.
The seven FIVB Open tournaments in 2015, six double-gender, and one women’s only, had $150,000 total purses for the double gender events and $75,000 for the single-gender competitions. The gold medal teams in each gender at FIVB Open tournaments each split $11,000, the silver $8,000, the bronze $6,000 and fourth place $4,500.
FIVB EVENT FORMAT
Implemented in 2013, the format of all the FIVB Beach Volleyball international tournaments – whether FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships, FIVB Beach Volleyball Grand Slam or FIVB Beach Volleyball Open – are the same, featuring pool play followed by single elimination knockout rounds. Country Quota playoffs have returned as needed in 2015 to determine the final teams for the qualification tournament.