Lausanne, Switzerland, May 30, 2016 — After completing eight grueling consecutive weeks of tournaments, the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) now has a very brief one week respite before the final qualifying event for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on the 2016 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour.
Next week’s final FIVB World Tour Olympic qualification event will be the double-gender $800,000 Swatch FIVB Hamburg Major Series event in Germany. It will be held at the Tennis Stadium Hamburg Rothenbaum.
Last week saw a team from the Netherlands win the men’s gold medal and a team from the United States win the women’s gold medal at the $800,000 FIVB Moscow Grand Slam in Russia. It was the 15th men’s event and 12th women’s event on the 2016 FIVB World Tour. All of the remaining events on the 2016 FIVB World Tour calendar are double gender events.
After the Swatch FIVB Hamburg Major Series, the FIVB World Tour continues with one FIVB Grand Slam in Poland and three more Swatch FIVB Major Series events in Croatia, Switzerland and Austria prior to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, Aug. 6-18. After the Olympics, concluding events on the 2016 FIVB World Tour will be a FIVB Grand Slam in the United States, the Swatch FIVB World Tour Finals and concludes with a FIVB Open tournament in Mexico.
MOSCOW MEN
In the men’s competition this past week at the FIVB Moscow Grand Slam, in a rematch of the finals of the 2015 FIVB World Championships, winning a reversal of the FIVB World Championships results, the gold medal winners with a 6-2 record was Netherlands’ fifth-seeded young Reinder Nummerdor/Christiaan Varenhorst who upset Brazil’s top-seeded FIVB World Champions Alison Cerutti/Bruno Oscar Schmidt in three sets, 21-19, 7-21 and 17-15 in 48 minutes.
For Netherlands’ Nummerdor/Varenhorst, it was their third career FIVB World Tour gold medal as a team in 18 events. Individually, it was the 12th career FIVB World Tour gold medal for Nummerdor and third for Varenhorst.
For Brazil’s Alison/Bruno Oscar, this was their third career FIVB World Tour silver medal as a team in 25 events. Individually, it was the 14th career FIVB World Tour overall silver medal for Alison to go along with 22 gold medals and 12 bronze in 99 events. For Bruno Oscar, this was his eighth career FIVB World Tour silver medal to go along with 12 gold medals and four bronze in 101 total career FIVB World Tour events.
In the men’s bronze medal match in Moscow, winning was Poland’s 17th-seeded Piotr Kantor/Bartosz Losiak came from behind to defeat USA’s fifth-seeded Jake Gibb/Casey Patterson in three sets, 21-19, 20-22 and 15-12 in 56 minutes.
In the Moscow men’s semifinals, Netherland’s Nummerdor/Varenhorst came back to stop USA’s Gibb/Patterson in three sets, 17-21, 21-16 and 15-13 in 45 minutes and Brazil’s Alison/Bruno Oscar advanced to the gold medal match by knocking off Poland’s Kantor/Losiak in straight sets, 21-19, 21-14 in 37 minutes.
MOSCOW WOMEN
In the women’s competition at the FIVB Moscow Grand Slam, USA’s third-seeded Olympians Kerri Walsh Jennings/April Ross compiled a perfect 7-0 record as they toppled their top-seeded Brazilian rivals Talita Antunes/Larissa Franca in straight sets, 22-20, 21-17 in 36 minutes.
USA’s Walsh Jennings/A. Ross now have earned 10 gold medals, two silver medals, two bronze medals and one fourth place finish in 26 FIVB World Tour events as a team. Individually, three-time Olympic champion Walsh Jennings now has 54 career FIVB World Tour gold medals in 112 events and A. Ross has 20 career FIVB World Tour gold medals in 112 tournaments.
For Brazil’s Talita/Larissa tandem, already been confirmed to compete in the Rio Olympics as a host-country selection, this was their first silver medal to go with 12 gold medals in just 20 FIVB World Tour events as a duo. Individually, for Talita this was her 16th career FIVB World Tour silver medal to with 30 gold medals and 15 bronze in 151 FIVB World Tour events. For Larissa, who won the bronze medal (with Juliana Felisberta) at the London 2012 Olympic Games, this was her 21st career FIVB World Tour silver medal to go along with a FIVB-record 58 gold medals and 17 bronze medals in 135 career FIVB World Tour events.
In the women’s bronze medal match in Moscow, Canada’s fifth-seeded Heather Bansley/Sarah Pavan defeated Brazil’s sixth-seeded Juliana Felisberta/Taiana Lima in two sets, 21-16, 21-18 in 38 minutes.
To reach the women’s gold medal match in Moscow, in their respective semifinals, USA’s Walsh Jennings/A. Ross defeated Brazil’s Juliana/Taiana in straight sets, 21-16, 22-20 in 37 minutes and Brazil’s Talita/Larissa held on to defeat Canada’s stubborn Bansley/Pavan, 21-15, 15-21 and 15-12 in 41 minutes.
MEN’S WINNERS SHARE
Last week’s FIVB Moscow Grand Slam men’s champions Nummerdor/Varenhorst of the Netherlands picked up the FIVB Grand Slam gold medal purse of $57,000. Brazil’s runner-up Alison/Bruno Oscar earned $43,000 in prize money while Poland’s bronze medalists Kantor/Losiak earned $32,000 and USA’s Gibb/Patterson received $24,000 in prize money for their fourth place finish.
WOMEN’S WINNERS ROLL
FIVB Moscow Grand Slam women’s champions Walsh Jennings/A. Ross of the United States earned the winner’s $57,000 purse. Brazil’s Talita/Larissa collected the runner-up $43,000 purse to split from their silver medal placement and Canada’s Bansley/Pavan earned $32,000 for their bronze medal finish. Brazil’s fourth-place finishers Juliana/Taiana earned $24,000 in prize money.
MEN’S POINTS/EARNINGS
After 15 men’s events on the 2016 FIVB World Tour, Poland’s Piotr Kantor/Bartosz Losiak remain at the top of the FIVB World Tour point standings with 4,040 points, while Italy’s Adrian Carambula/Alex Ranghieri are second with 3,620 points. Third is Mexico’s Lombardo Ontiveros/Juan Virgen with 3,230 is third, fourth is USA’s John Hyden/Tri Bourne with 3,110 points, and fifth is USA’s Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena with 3,070. Sixth is Germany’s Markus Bockermann/Lars Fluggen with 2,970, moving up to seventh is with 2,930 is France’s Youssef Krou/Eduard Rowlandson, eighth is Canada’s Grant O’Gorman/Sam Pedlow with 2,720, ninth with 2,610 points is Canada’s Josh Binstock/Sam Schachter and 10th is Italy’s Daniele Lupo/Paolo Nicolai with 2,600 points.
In the 2016 FIVB World Tour men’s season earnings after 15 events, Poland’s Kantor/Losiak tandem continues to lead with $117,750. Jumping all the way up to second is Netherlands’ Reinder Nummerdor/Christiaan Varenhorst with $74,124, tied for third with $71,000 each are Brazil’s Alison Cerutti/Bruno Oscar Schmidt duo and USA’s Dalhausser/Lucena and fifth is Italy’s Carambula/ Ranghieri tandem with $66,500. Sixth is Netherlands’ Alexander Brouwer/Robert Meeuwsen with $66,375, seventh is Brazil’s Evandro Goncalves/Pedro Solberg duo with $64,000, eighth is Italy’s Daniele Lupo/Paolo Nicolai with $55,575, ninth is Mexico’s Ontiveros/Virgen with $52,125, and 10th is Poland’s Fijalek/ Prudel with $50,750.
WOMEN’S POINTS/EARNINGS
For the women after 12 2016 FIVB World Tour events, USA’s Kerri Walsh Jennings/April Ross has climbed to the top run on the ladder with 3,450 points. Second with 3,180 points is Germany’s Katrin Holtwick/Ilka Semmler duo, Italy’s Marta Menegatti/Viktoria Orsi Toth tandem is third on the point leader board with 2,940 points, fourth is Germany’s Karla Borger/Brita Buthe with 2,860 points and Switzerland’s Isabelle Forrer/Anouk Vergé-Dépré tandem is fifth with 2,790 points. Sixth with 2,690 points is Argentina’s Ana Gallay/Georgina Klug, seventh with 2,580 points is Switzerland’s Joana Heidrich/Nadine Zumkehr, eighth with 2,560 points is Germany’s Chantal Labourer/Julia Sude, Finland’s Taru Lahti/Rikka Lehtonen team is ninth with 2,530 and 10th with 2,430 points is Vanuatu’s Linline Matauatu/Miller Pata.
In the 2016 FIVB World Tour women’s season earnings after 12 events, USA’s Kerri Walsh Jennings/April Ross duo continues in the top spot with $150,000 in earnings in just six events, while second with $67,875 is Germany’s Karla Borger/Britta Buthe, third with $67,000 in just four events is Brazil’s Talita Antunes/Larissa Franca, fourth with $66,000 is Poland’s Monika Brzostek/Kinga Kolosinska and fifth with $55,700 is Switzerland’s Isabelle Forrer/Anouk Vergé-Dépré. Sixth is Germany’s Laura Ludwig/Kira Walkenhorst with $55,375, seventh in the money standings with $53,000 is Brazil’s Eduarda Lisboa/Elize Maia, eighth is Italy’s Marta Menegatti/Viktoria Orsi Toth with $51,875, ninth is Canada’s Heather Bansley/Sarah Pavan with $51,000 and 10th with $50,150 is Switzerland’s Joana Heidrich/Nadine Zumkehr.
MEN’S FINAL FOURS
After 15 men’s tournaments on the 2016 FIVB World Tour schedule, 16 countries have at least one final four placement. Leader with 10 final four placements each is the United States (three gold medals, two silver medals, three bronze medals, two fourth place finishes), Second with eight final four placements is Brazil (three gold medals, three silver, one bronze, one fourth place finish), Tied for third with seven each are Italy (three gold medals, two silver medals, two fourth place finishes) and Poland (one gold medal, four bronze medals, two fourth places). Fifth with six final four placements is Germany (one gold medal, two silver medals, one bronze medal, two fourth places). Sixth with four final fours is the Netherlands (one gold medal, one silver medal, two bronze).Tied for seventh with three final fours each are Latvia (one gold medal, one bronze medal, one fourth place), Mexico (one silver medal, two bronze medals) and Russia (two silver medals, one fourth place finish). Tied for 10th with two final fours each are Chile (two fourth places), , and Spain (one gold medal, one bronze medal). Tied for 13th with one final four finish each are Austria (one silver medal), Canada (one silver medal), France (one fourth place), Greece (one fourth place) and Qatar (one gold medal).
WOMEN’S FINAL FOURS
In 12 women’s FIVB international events to date on the 2016 calendar, 15 countries have earned at least one final four finish. Leaders in final four placements with nine is Brazil (three gold medals, three silver medals, two bronze medals, one fourth place finish), Second with eighth final fours is Germany (two gold medals, one silver medal, four bronze medals, one fourth place), third with seven is the United States (four gold medals, one silver medal, two bronze medals), fourth with five is Switzerland (two gold medals, one bronze medal, two fourth place finishes) and tied for fifth with three final four placements each are Argentina (three fourth place finishes), Italy (one silver medal, one bronze, one fourth place) and the Netherlands (one silver, two fourth place finishes). Eighth with two final four finishes is Spain (one silver medal, one bronze medal). Tied for ninth with one final four finish each are Austria (one silver medal), Australia (one fourth place), Canada (one bronze medal), China (one silver medal), Czech Republic (one gold medal), Finland (one silver medal), Poland (one silver medal) and Vanuatu (one fourth place).
MEN’S WINNING PERCENTAGE/MATCH WINS
Based on percentage, statistically, in men’s action after 15 events on the 2016 FIVB World Tour calendar with a minimum of 27 matches played, the leader at 86.7% is USA’s Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena (39-6) while second at 78.1% is Netherlands’ Alexander Brouwer/Robert Meeuwsen (25-7), third at 77.4% is Brazil’s Gustavo Carvalhaes/Saymon Barbosa (24-7), fourth at 74.1% is Italy’s Alex Ranghieri/Adrian Carambula (43-15) and fifth at 71.9% is Spain’s Adrian Gavira/Pablo Herrera (23-9). Tied for sixth at 71.4% are Italy’s Paolo Nicolai/Daniele Lupo (30-12) and Latvia’s Aleksandrs Samoilovs/Janis Smedins (25-10), eighth at 71.2% is Poland’s Kantor/Losiak (47-19), ninth at 69.6% is Mexico’s Lombardo Ontiveros/Juan Virgen (39-17) and 10th at 69.6% is Netherlands’ Reinder Nummerdor/Christiaan Varenhost (19-9).
With 47 match wins this season through 15 events on the 2016 FIVB World Tour, leading this category is Poland’s Piotr Kantor/Bartosz Losiak (47-19), second with 43 match wins is Italy’s Adrian Carambula/Alex Ranghieri (43-15) while tied for third with 39 match wins each are Mexico’s Lombardo Ontiveros/Juan Virgin (39-17) and USA’s Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena (39-6) and tied for fifth 35 match wins each are Germany’s Bockermann/Fluggen (35-17) and USA’s Tri Bourne/John Hyden (35-20). Seventh with 34 match wins is Canada’s Grant O’Gorman/Sam Pedlow (34-26), eighth with 30 wins is Italy’s Paulo Nicolai/Daniele Lupo (30-12), ninth with 29 wins is Latvia’s Martins Plavins/Haralds Regza (29-23) and 10th with 28 wins is Canada’s Josh Binstock/Sam Schachter (28-23).
WOMEN’S WINNING PERCENTAGE/MATCH WINS
Based on percentage, statistically, in women’s action after 12 events on the 2016 FIVB World Tour calendar with a minimum of 21 matches played, the leader at 95.2% continues to be USA’s Kerri Walsh Jennings/April Ross (40-2), second at 87.1% is Germany’s Laura Ludwig/Kira Walkenhorst (27-4), third at 86.4% is Brazil’s Talita Antunes/Larissa Franca (19-3), fourth at 78.0% is Brazil’s Eduarda Lisboa/Elise Maia (32-9) and fifth at 74.4% is Germany’s Karla Borger/Britta Buthe (32-11.) Sixth at 71.4% is Switzerland’s Joana Heidrich/Nadine Zumkehr (30-12), tied for seventh at 69.4% each are Czech Republic’s Barbora Hermannova/Marketa Slukova (25-11) and Germany’s Chantal Laboureur/Julia Sude (34-15), seventh, ninth at 69.2% is Brazil’s Juliana Felisberta/Taiana Lima (18-8) and 10th at 65.4% is Greece’s Vasiliki Arvaniti/Penny Karagkouni (17-9).
For the women in match wins following 12 events on the 2016 FIVB calendar, leaders with 40 match wins is USA’s Kerri Walsh Jennings/April Ross (40-2), second with 36 match wins is Germany’s Katrin Holtwick/Ilka Semmler (36-25), third with 34 match wins is Germany’s Chantal Laboureur/Julia Sude tandem (34-15), tied for fourth with 32 match wins each are Brazil’s Eduarda Lisboa/Elize Maia (32-9), Germany’s Karla Borger/Britta Buthe (32-11) and Italy’s Menegatti/Orsi Toth (32-17). Seventh with 31 match wins is Argentina’s Ana Gallay/Georgina Klug (31-19), tied for eighth with 30 match wins each are Switzerland’s Joana Heidrich/Nadine Zumkehr (30-12) and Finland’s Taru Lahti/Rikka Lehtonen (30-22) and tied for 110th with 29 match wins each are Austria’s Barbara Hansel/Stefanie Schwaiger (29-20) and Switzerland’s Isabelle Forrer/Anouk Vergé-Dépré (29-19).
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 completed eight straight weeks of tournaments. In all, Brazil is hosting five international events in 2016. In addition to Maceió, Rio, Vitoria and Fortaleza, the Brazil events conclude with the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Aug. 6-18).
The FIVB World Tour will finish its Olympic next week with the double-gender $800,000 Swatch FIVB Hamburg Major Series will be held in Germany (June 7-12). After Hamburg, remaining 2016 FIVB World Tour events prior to the Rio Olympics will be the FIVB Olsztyn Grand Slam in Poland (June 14-19) ), and three more Swatch FIVB Major Series events. First will be the Swatch FIVB Porec Major Series in Croatia (June 28-July 3), followed by the Swatch FIVB Gstaad Major Series in Switzerland (July 5-9) and the Swatch FIVB Klagenfurt Major Series in Austria (July 26-31).
GROWING HISTORY
The Swatch FIVB Hamburg Major Series in Germany will be the 345th men’s tournament since the FIVB began play in 1987 and the 306th 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. Next week’s Swatch FIVB Hamburg Major Series is the last remaining tournament on the Olympic qualifying calendar for the 2016 FIVB World Tour.
FIVB WORLD TOUR PURSES
The four FIVB Grand Slam and four 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.