Maceió, Brazil, February 24, 2016 - It was not a “typical at the beach” here Wednesday for the women’s competition at this week’s FIVB World Tour stop in the Brazilian coastal state of Alagoas on the Atlantic Ocean where overcast conditions featured “only” one round of competition.
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Main draw results - WomenWith the $150,000 Maceió Open featuring play for both genders for the third time on the 2015-2016 FIVB World Tour calendar, a “typical” international event has the women playing two rounds of pool play on the opening day of Main Draw competition while the men play only once.
But Wednesday, the women’s played once with 16 matches for the eight pools of competition as overcast conditions produced a reasonable temperature (31°C, 88°F) with 62 per cent humidity. Thursday, the format switches with the women playing a 32-match schedule while the men complete pool play with 16 matches.
With women’s play concluding at approximately 3 p.m. (local time) Wednesday, the men’s competition will conclude with four matches after sunset on the Pajuçara center court in front of the Hotel Enseada. When group play concludes Thursday, the top three teams from each pool will advance to Friday’s elimination rounds.
“It was great to play only once today,” said Austrian Barbara Hansel after her third match of the tournament Wednesday afternoon after she and her 29th-seeded partner Stephanie Schwaiger dropped a 2-0 (21-11, 21-13) decision to fourth-seeded Juliana Felisberta and Taiana Lima of Brazil in a 32-minute Pool D match.
“Since we had to qualify for the Main Draw, we are glad to only play once today after two tough matches yesterday when the conditions were hotter and more humid,” said the 32-year old Hansel, who has been playing on the FIVB World Tour since 2003 with the Maceió Open being her 143rd international start.
“Typically, we have to play twice on the first day of pool play, so it gives us a chance to get a little break to rest up for the important pool play matches Thursday,” Hansel offered. “Although it could be hotter and more humid tomorrow, so who knows. Anyway, I am ready for a dip in the ocean and some additional rest at the hotel.”
The 29th-seeded Austrians need at least one win Thursday to advance to Friday’s elimination rounds starting with a morning match against 13th-seeded Jamie Broder/Kristina Valjas of Canada followed by an afternoon meeting with 20th-seeded Ekaterina Birlova/Evgeniya Ukolova of Russia.
Seven of the top eight-seeded teams won as expected Wednesday led by Brazilians Agatha Bednarczuk/Barbara Seixas and Talita Antunes/Larissa França. Agatha and Barbara, the top-seeded team in the Maceió Open and reigning FIVB world champions, posted a 2-0 (21-8, 21-15) win in 35 minutes over 32nd-seeded Maria Julia Benet/Virginia Zonta Argentina.
Barbara stretches to keep the ball in play
Talita and Larissa, who will join Agatha and Barbara as Brazil’s Olympic beach volleyball entries for the Rio 2016 Summer Games, posted a 2-0 (21-10, 21-14) win in 31 minutes over Norisbeth Agudo/Olaya Pazo of Venezuela. Talita and Larissa won the last FIVB World Tour stop in Brazil as they captured the Rio Open last September on Copacabana by defeating Agatha and Barbara in the gold medal match.
Two qualifying teams posted notable upsets Wednesday in Pool F after advancing from Tuesday's qualifier. Eduarda Lisboa and Elize Maia, the 22nd-seeded team in the Main Draw from Brazil, posted a 2-0 (21-14, 21-18) victory in 34 minutes over 11th-seeded Elsa Baquerizo/Liliana Fernandez of Spain.
Chen Xue, the 2013 FIVB world championship, teamed with 19-year old partner Xinyi Xia to defeat sixth-seeded Lauren Fendrick/Brooke Sweat of the United States 2-0 (21-17, 21-14) in 36 minutes. Seeded 27th with Xia in the Main Draw after winning twice Tuesday, Xue is returning to action after having right shoulder surgery last June in southern California.
The Maceió Open concludes with the medal matches for both women and men where the gold medal teams will share the $11,000 first-place prize. The women’s 2015-2016 international calendar started last October with stops in Mexico and Turkey.
Following the Maceió Open, the FIVB World Tour will take a week off before resuming competition March 8-13 on famed Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, the first Grand Slam event on the 2015-2016 international Beach Volleyball calendar with an $800,000 purse.