Xiamen, China, April 21, 2017 – Germany’s Victoria Bieneck and Isabel Schneider find their rhythm to defeat Canada’s Julie Gordon and Camille Saxton in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Xiamen Open 2017.
New pairing Bieneck/Schneider did not let Gordon/Saxton’s recent success distract their focus in their opening main draw match. After back to back victories in both Shepparton and Sydney already this year, the Canadian team couldn’t get a foothold against the composed Germans.Bieneck/Schneider play in only their third tournament together following a 25th place finish in Fort Lauderdale, but a determined performance defeated Gordon/Saxton, 2-0 (21-17, 21-17).
“We knew the Canadians, they started well this season, they already played in Australia and we focused on us and tried to make a lot of pressure and I think it helped us to win,
“We’re happy, it’s good to have this start to the tournament. It’s a long time that we didn’t play so it’s always good to win,” said Bieneck.
“We played U23 world championship together so we know each other. After the Olympics there are a lot of changes, so we decided to play together and we moved to Hamburg to practice together, so we are at the beginning of our new partnership and of course happy to start today with a win,” said Schneider.
“The conditions are good, we have often been in China and it gets better and better I have to say,” said Bieneck.
Switzerland’s Nicole Eiholzer and Dunja Gerson exceeded expectations defeating Marta Menegatti and Rebecca Diane Perry from Italy, 2-1 (21-15, 19-21, 15-13).
“It was really difficult for us, we were a really lower seeded team and they were in the top eight. In the beginning it was really difficult but we tried our best and it was a success in the end,” said Gerson.
“I think we really could manage to play calm but also play a lot of power in it, so we’re really happy that we won,” said Eiholzer.
https://twitter.com/FIVBBeach/status/855249354231336960Czech team Kristyna Kolocova and Michala Kvapilova progress smoothly after their opening main draw win against Turkish qualifiers Esra Betul Cetin and Merve Nezir, 2-0 (21-11).
“The first set was straight, I think we put a big pressure on serve so they didn’t make a lot of side-outs. The second set was a little harder because they kind of kept up their game, they played a little bit better and we made a few mistakes, but we’re so glad that we won,” said Kvapilova.
https://twitter.com/FIVBBeach/status/855254412188581888China favourites Fan Wang and Yuan Yue pleased the home crowds defeating Australia’s Mariafe Archato and Brittany Kendall, 2-0 (21-16, 21-12). Wang/Yue are now the only Chinese team in contention after Germany’s Borger Kozuch dashed the hopes of Wang Xinxin and Xue Chen in the tie break, 2-1 (16-21, 21-12, 15-12).
“I think it was a really tough game, China is really strong. I think it was a really good game also for the supporters. I think it was really interesting as both teams were fighting until the end. We were really happy that we could turn this game and win in the end,” said Kozuch.
Barbara Seixas De Freitas and Fernanda Alves from Brazil displayed their dominance over China’s X. Y. Xia/Y. Y. Wang taking the match 2-0 (21-7, 21-10).
All four Brazilian teams, Josi/Lili, Barbara/Fernanda, Juliana/Carol and Maria Antonelli/Carol Horta remain undefeated to enter the round of sixteen in Xiamen.
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