Lausanne, Switzerland, April 25, 2016 — Following the last of three events in Asia, the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) returns to Brazil for the fourth time this season.
With the qualifying process for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in full swing, the 2016 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour is playing the fourth of eight straight tournaments with this week’s $150,000 FIVB Fortaleza Open being held through Sunday in Northeast Brazil.
Last week saw teams from the United States win both the men’s and women’s gold medals at the $150,000 FIVB Fuzhou Open in China. It was the 10th men’s event and seventh women’s event on the 2016 FIVB World Tour. All of the remaining events on the 2016 FIVB World Tour are double gender events. The USA has now swept both gold medals 14 times on the FIVB World Tour.
FUZHOU MEN
In the men’s competition this past week in Fuzhou, winning the gold medal with a undefeated 7-0 record was USA’s top-seeded Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena who stopped Italy’s ninth-seeded Daniele Lupo/Paolo Nicolai in the gold medal finale, 21-18, 21-15 in just 33 minutes. It was the 33rd career FIVB World Tour gold medal for Dalhausser and fourth for Lucena. As a new team of veteran players, Dalhausser/Lucena have now won three gold medals in the five FIVB World Tour events they have played.
In the men’s bronze medal match in Fuzhou, winning was Spain’s fifth-seeded Adrian Gavira/Pablo Herrera, who won the gold medal two weeks ago in Xiamen, came back to upset Latvia’s fourth-seeded Aleksandrs Samoilovs/Janis Smedins, 17-21, 21-19 and 15-12 in 46 minutes.
In the Fuzhou men’s semifinals, USA’s Dalhausser/Lucena defeated Latvia’s Samoilovs/J. Smedins, 21-19, 21-13 in 36 minutes and Italy’s Lupo/Nicolai advanced to the gold medal match when they came back to win over Spain’s Gavira/Herrera, 17-21, 21-14 and 15-13 in 46 minutes.
FUZHOU WOMEN
In the women’s competition at the FIVB Fuzhou Open, USA’s top-seeded April Ross/Kerri Walsh Jennings compiled a perfect 7-0 record as they topped Germany’s suprising 16th-seeded Chantal Laboureur/Julia Sude, winning the gold medal match in twin sets, 21-15, 21-15 in a quick 33 masterful minutes. It was the second FIVB World Tour gold medal as a team for USA’s A. Ross/Walsh Jennings. Overall, A. Ross now has 18 career FIVB World Tour gold medals while three-time Olympic champion Walsh Jennings now has 52 career FIVB World Tour gold medals.
In the women’s bronze medal match in Fuzhou, Switzerland’s 10th-seeded Joana Heidrich/Nadine Zumkehr won by injury forfeit over fourth-seeded countrywomen Isabelle Forrer/Anouk Vergé-Dépré who had won the gold medal the week before in Xiamen, China.
In just their fourth FIVB World Tour event since last September when Walsh Jennings had her fifth shoulder surgery, it was also the 13th final four finish in 24 FIVB World Tour events as a team (eight golds, two silver medals, two bronze medals, one fourth place). In their FIVB careers, it was the 50th final four finish for Ross including her 18th gold medal (17 gold, 14 silver, 10 bronze medals, seven fourth places). For Walsh Jennings, it was her 82nd final four finish and her 52nd career FIVB gold medal (17 silver, nine bronze medals, four fourth places).
To reach the women’s gold medal match in Fuzhou, in their respective semifinals, USA’s A. Ross/Walsh Jennings stopped Switzerland’s Isabelle Forrer/Anouk Vergé-Dépré, 22-20, 21-12 in 33 minutes and Germany’s Laboureur/Sude toppled Switzerland’s Heidrich/Zumkehr in straight sets, 21-17, 21-7 in 30 minutes.
MEN’S WINNERS SHARE
Last week’s FIVB Fuzhou Open men’s champions Dalhausser/Lucena of the United States picked up the FIVB Open gold medal purse of $11,000. Italy’s runner-up Lupo/Nicolai earned $8,000 in prize money while Spain’s bronze medalists Gavira/Herrera earned $6,000 and Latvia’s Samoilovs/J. Smedins received $4,500 in prize money for their fourth place finish.
WOMEN’S WINNERS ROLL
FIVB Fuzhou Open women’s champions A. Ross/Walsh Jennings of the United States earned the winner’s $11,000 purse. Germany’s Laoureur/Sude collected the runner-up $8,000 purse to split from their silver medal placement and Switzerland’s Heidrich/Zumkehr earned $6,000 for their bronze medal finish. Switzerland’s fourth-place finishers Forrer/ Anouk Vergé-Dépré earned $4,500 in prize money.
MEN’S POINTS/EARNINGS
After 10 men’s events on the 2016 FIVB World Tour, Poland’s Piotr Kantor/Bartosz Losiak tandem continues to lead the FIVB World Tour point standings with 2,920 points. Italy’s Adrian Carambula/Alex Ranghieri duo is still second in the standings with 2,910. USA’s Dalhausser/Lucena duo with 2,430 points duo is third and fourth is Mexico’s Ontiveros/Virgen with 2,350. Fifth is Germany’s Markus Bockermann/Lars Fluggen with 2,280 and France’s Youssef Krou/Eduard Rowlandson with 2,210 points is sixth.
In the 2016 FIVB World Tour men’s season earnings after 10 events, Poland’s Kantor/Losiak tandem continues to lead with $81,750. USA’s Dalhausser/Lucena duo is second with $58,000, Brazil’s Evandro Goncalves/Pedro Solberg duo is third with $51,000 and Italy’s Carambula/ Ranghieri tandem is fourth with $47,265. Fifth is Netherlands’ Alexander Brouwer/Robert Meeuwsen with $46,000 and sixth is Mexico’s Ontiveros/Virgin with $37,125. Seventh is Germany’s Bockermann/Fluggen with $35,750 while eighth is France’s Krou/Rowlandson with $31,900, Poland’s Gregorz Fijalek/Mariusz Prudel with $31,375 is ninth and 10th is Brazil’s Alison Cerutti/Bruno Oscar Schmidt with $28,000. Having only competed in four events this season including back-to-back podium finishes, Spain’s Gavira/Herrera team has moved up to 13th with $24,375.
WOMEN’S POINTS/EARNINGS
For the women after seven 2016 FIVB World Tour events, Italy’s Marta Menegatti/Viktoria Orsi Toth tandem continues at the top of the point leader board with 2,350 points, Switzerland’s Forrer/Vergé-Dépré duo is second with 2,310 points while USA’ A. Ross/Walsh Jennings is third with 2,150, Germany’s Labourer/Sude is fourth with 1,940, fifth with 1,980 points is Argentina’s Ana Gallay/Georgina Klug, sixth with 1,840 is Germany’s Holtwick/Semmler , seventh with 1,780 is Germany’s Karla Borger/Brita Buthe and eighth with 1,630 points is Austria’s Barbara Hansel/Stefanie Schwaiger.
In the 2016 FIVB World Tour women’s season earnings after seven events, USA’s Ross/Walsh Jennings continue in the top spot with $82,000 in earning in just four events, while second with $46,700 is Switzerland’s Forrer/Vergé-Dépré and third with $45,800 is Poland’s Monika Brzostek/Kinga Kolosinska. Fourth is Germany’s Borger/Buthe with $44,125 and fifth is Italy’s Marta Menegatti/Viktoria Orsi Toth with $40,375. Sixth is Germany’s Laura Ludwig/Kira Walkenhorst with $31,375, seventh in the money standings is Germany’s Laboureur/Sude with $30,875, Brazil’s Eduarda Lisboa/Elize Maia duo is eighth with $25,000, ninth is Germany’s Katrin Holtwick/Ila Semmler with 24,150, 10th is Brazil’s Talita/Larissa with $24,000 and 11th with $23,000 in prize money is Brazil’s Agatha Bednarczuk/Barbara Seixas.
MEN’S FINAL FOURS
After 10 men’s tournaments on the 2016 FIVB World Tour schedule, 14 countries have at least one final four placement. Overall leader with six final four placements is the United States (three gold medals, two silver medals, one bronze medal). Tied for second with five final four placements each are Brazil (one gold, two silver medals, one bronze, one fourth place finish), Poland (one gold medal, two bronze, two fourth places), Italy (two gold medals, two silver medals, one fourth place) and Germany (one gold medal, one bronze medal, two fourth place). Tied for sixth with two final fours each are Latvia (one bronze medal, one fourth place), Mexico (one silver medal, one bronze medal), the Netherlands (one silver medal, two bronze), Russia (one silver medal, one fourth place finish) and Spain (one gold medal, one bronze medal). Tied for 11th with one medal each are Austria (one silver medal), Chile (one fourth place), France (one fourth place), Qatar (one gold medal).
WOMEN’S FINAL FOURS
In seven women’s FIVB international events to date on the 2016 calendar, 11 countries have earned at least one final four finish. Tied for the lead in final four placements with five each are the United States (two gold medals, one silver medal, two bronze medals) and Germany (one gold medal, one silver medal, two bronze medals, one fourth place) .Tied for third with four final four placements are Brazil (two gold medals, one silver medal, one bronze medal) and Switzerland (one gold medal, one bronze medal, two fourth place finish). Tied for fifth with two final fours each are Argentina (two fourth place finishes), Italy (one silver medal, one bronze) and the Netherlands (one silver, one fourth place finish). Tied for eighth with one final four finish each are Austria (one silver medal), Australia (one fourth place), Czech Republic (one gold medal) and Poland (one silver medal).
MEN’S WINNING PERCENTAGE/MATCH WINS
Based on percentage, statistically, in men’s action after 10 events on the 2016 FIVB World Tour calendar with a minimum of 18 matches played, the leader at 91.2% is USA’s Dalhausser/Lucena (31-3) while second at 80.0% is Italy’s Ranghieri/Carambula (36-9), third at 77.3% is Netherlands’ Brouwer/Meeuwsen (17-5), fourth at 75.5% is Poland’s Kantor/Losiak (37-12. Fifth at 72.5% is Spain’s Gavira/Herrera (16-6), sixth at 72.5% is Germany’s Bockermann/Fluggen (29-11); seventh at 71.4% is Italy’s Paolo Nicolai/Daniele Lupo (20-8), eighth at 70.0% is Mexico’s Lombardo Ontiveros/Juan Virgen (28-12), ninth at 63.0% is USA’s John Hyden/Tri Bourne (17-10) and 10th at 65.0% is Latvia’s Samoilovs/J. Smedins.
With 37 match wins each this season through 10 events on the 2016 FIVB World Tour, leading this category is Poland’s Piotr Kantor/Bartosz Losiak (37-12), while second with 36 is Italy’s Carambula/Ranghieri (36-9), third with 31 wins is USA’s Dalhausser/Lucena (31-3), fourth with 29 wins is Germany’s Bockermann/Fluggen (29-11), fifth with 28 win each are Mexico’s Ontiveros/Virgin (28-11) while Tied for sixth with 23 wins each are Austria’s Cristoph Dressler/Thomas Kunert (23-16) and Latvia’s Martins Plavins/Haralds Regza (23-20) and tied for eighth with 21 wins each are Canada’s Grant O’Gorman/Sam Pedlow (21-18), Russia’s Dmitri Barsouk/Nikita Liamin (21-14) and USA’s Tri Bourne/John Hyden (21-11).
WOMEN’S WINNING PERCENTAGE/MATCH WINS
Based on percentage, statistically, in women’s action after seven events on the 2016 FIVB World Tour calendar with a minimum of 13 matches played, the leader at 92.9% is USA’s Ross/Walsh Jennings (26-2), second at 88.2% is Germany’s Laura Ludwig/Kira Walkenhorst (15-2), third at 86.7% is Brazil’s Talita Antunes/Larissa Franca (13-2), fourth at 83.3% is Brazil’s Agatha/Barbara (10-2) and fifth at 75.0% is Germany’s Chantal Laboureur/Julia Sude (27-9). Sixth at 74.1% is Brazil’s Eduarda Lisboa/Elise Maia (20-7), tied for seventh at 71.4% are Czech Republic’s Barbora Hermannova/Marketa Slukova (15-6) eighth and Germany’s Karla Borger/Britta Buthe (20-8) and ninth 68.4% is Italy’s Menegatti/Orsi Toth (26-12).
For the women in match wins following seven events on the 2016 FIVB calendar, leading with 27 match wins is Germany’s Laboureur/Sude (27-9), Tied for second with 26 wins each are Italy’s Menegatti/Orsi Toth (26-11) and USA’s A. Ross/Walsh Jennings (26-2), while fifth in match wins with 25 is Switzerland’s Forrer/Vergé-Dépré , sixth with 24 wins is Austria’s Hansel/Stefanie Schwaiger (24-13), seventh with 22 wins is Argentina’s Ana Gallay/Georgina Klug (22l-16), and tied for eighth with 20 wins each are Brazil’s Eduarda/Elize (22-7), Germany’s Borger/Buthe (20-8) and Germany’s Katrin Holtwick/Ilka Semmler (20-17).
ON THE HORIZON
With placement points for the FIVB Olympic Rankings for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games continuing, the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour has resumed with events over eight straight weeks through the end of May. In all, Brazil is hosting five international events in 2016. In addition to Maceió, Rio and Vitoria, this week’s FIVB Fortaleza Open (April 26-May 1) and the Brazil events conclude with the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Aug. 6-18).
The FIVB World Tour heads to Europe FIVB Fortaleza Open. Up first will be in Russia for the FIVB Sochi Open (May 3-8) followed by the FIVB Antalya Open in Turkey (May 11-15). The tour then visits the United States for the FIVB Cincinnati Open (May 17-22) and then returns to Russia for the FIVB Moscow Grand Slam (May 24-29).
GROWING HISTORY
The FIVB Fortaleza Open in Brazil will be the 340th men’s tournament since the FIVB began play in 1987 and the 301st FIVB women’s tournament since their competition started in 1992.
FIVB 2016
Based in Lausanne, Switzerland as the international governing body for the Olympic sports of Beach Volleyball and Volleyball, the 2016 FIVB Beach Volleyball calendar featured a purse of US$8.8 million with a season that extended from last October to this October, competing at 23 venues in 13 countries. The schedule includes five FIVB Grand Slams, three Swatch FIVB Major Series events, 14 FIVB Opens and the special Swatch FIVB World Tour Finals in the United States. The showcase event will be the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil (Aug. 6-18).
The 2015 portion of the 2016 FIVB World Tour calendar started in October in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and included two more open events prior to the remainder of the schedule resuming at the FIVB Kish Island Open in Iran in February.
ROAD TO RIO
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 Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Copacabana Beach in Brazil in August. Counting the FIVB Fortaleza Open, eight men’s and seven women’s events remain on the Olympic qualifying calendar for the FIVB World Tour.
FIVB WORLD TOUR PURSES
The five FIVB Grand Slam and three Swatch FIVB Major Series competitions in 2016, all double-gender, each have $800,000 in total purses. The total of $500,000 will be the purse for the Swatch FIVB World Tour Season Final which will feature the top eight teams in each gender and two wild card teams.
The 14 FIVB Open tournaments on 2016 calendar, 11 double-gender, and three men’s only, have $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 Grand Slam and Swatch FIVB Major Series events split $57,000, the silver $43,000, the bronze $32,000 and fourth place $24,000. 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 returned as needed in 2015 to determine the final teams for the qualification tournament.