Lausanne, Switzerland, September 27, 2015 — With its second event in China this season completed Sunday, the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) heads back to North America for the inaugural $500,000 Swatch FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Finals. The unique event, which features 10 teams in each gender competing for a FIVB-record $100,000 first place purse, will be held Tuesday through Sunday at the Fort Lauderdale Beach Park on Seabreeze Boulevard.
Last week saw teams from the United States and Switzerland win the gold medals at the $150,000 FIVB Xiamen Open in China, the last of 14 men’s and 15 women’s point’s event on the 2015 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour calendar.
XIAMEN MEN
In the men’s competition last week in Xiamen, winning the gold medal with an unbeaten 7-0 record for their first win of the season was USA’s Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena, the new duo that has played just six FIVB events as a team with two silver medals in addition to their new gold. Dalhausser/Lucena are making a valiant effort to gain enough points to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil after Dalhausser has been sidelined with injury part of the last two seasons. Dalhausser/Lucena won the gold medal match in straight sets over Germany’s Markus Bockermann/Lars Fluggen, 21-16, 21-17 in 37 minutes. For Dalhausser, who has won at least one FIVB gold medal for 10 straight seasons, it was his 30th career FIVB gold medal and Lucena’s first.
Latvia’s two-time FIVB World Tour season point champion Aleksandrs Samoilovs/Janis Smedins. Samoilovs/J. Smedins, who played a limited schedule so far this year as J. Smedins recovered from knee surgery, earned their third straight FIVB podium finish, winning the bronze medal over Latvian compatriots Martins Plavins/Haralds Regza in straight sets, 21-17, 21-13 in 34 minutes.
In a pair of three-set semifinals, USA’s Dalhausser/Lucena held on to defeat Latvia’s Plavins/Regza, 21-17, 19-21 and 15-11 in 52 minutes to advance to the gold medal match while Germany’s Bockermann/Fluggen held off Latvia’s Samoilovs/J. Smedins, 16-21, 22-20 and 15-11 in 53 minutes to advance to the bronze medal match.
XIAMEN WOMEN
In the women’s competition in Xiamen, Switzerland’s Joana Heidrich/Nadine Zumkehr with a perfect 7-0 record, won the gold medal match over Argentinean Olympians Ana Gallay/Georgina Klug, 21-18, 21-17 in 40 minutes marking the first women’s medal for Argentina on the FIVB World Tour.
In the bronze medal match, Switzerland’s Isabelle Forrer/Anouk Verge-Depre won their second straight FIVB medal, winning the bronze medal in straight sets, 21-14 24-22 in 40 minutes over Germany’s Katrin Holtwick/Ilka Semmler.
To reach the gold medal match with their semifinal victories, Switzerland’s Heidrich/Zumkehr defeated Swiss compatriots Forrer/Verge-Depre, 21-16, 21-15 in 34 minutes and Argentina’s Gallay/Klug defeated Germany’s Holtwick/Semmler in straight sets, 21-18, 21-18 in 36 minutes..
MEN’S WINNERS SHARE
Last week’s FIVB Xiamen Open men’s champions Dalhausser/Lucena of the USA earned 500 points on the FIVB World Tour and picked up the gold medal purse of $11,000. Germany’s runner-up Bockermann/Fluggen earned 450 valuable points in the FIVB World Tour rankings as well as earning $8,000 in prize money. Latvia’s Samoilovs/J. Smedins earned $6,000 in prize money and 400 points that also go toward the Olympic qualification rankings. Latvia’s Plavins/Regza received 350 points and $4,500 in prize money for their fourth place finish.
WOMEN’S WINNERS ROLL
Last week’s FIVB Xiamen Open women’s champions Heidrich/Zumkehr of Switzerland also earned 500 points on the FIVB World Tour and also picked up the gold medal purse of $11,000. Argentina’s runner up Gallay/Klug earned 450 valuable points in the FIVB World Tour Rankings as well picking up the $8,000 purse to split from their silver medal placement and Switzerland’s bronze medal duo Forrer/Verge-Depre earned $6,000 in prize money and 400 points that also go towards the Olympic qualification rankings. Germany’s fourth place finishers Holtwick/Semmler picked up 350 points and $4,500 in prize money.
MEN’S POINTS/EARNINGS
After 14 events, Brazil’s 2015 FIVB World Champions, Gstaad, Yokohama, Long Beach and Olsztyn gold medalists Alison Cerutti/Bruno Oscar Schmidt duo has clinched the FIVB World Tour point standings with 6,070. Brazil’s Pedro Solberg/Evandro Goncalves duo finished second in the standings with 4,960. Third was Netherlands’ 2013 FIVB World Champions Alexander Brouwer/Robert Meeuwsen with 4,540 points, fourth with 4,220 points was Netherlands’ Reinder Nummerdor/Christian Varenhorst and in fifth was USA’s Jake Gibb/Casey Patterson with 4,080 points.
In the 2015 FIVB World Tour men’s season earnings after 14 events, Brazil’s Alison/Bruno tandem leads with $345,500 in prize winnings, followed in second by Brazil’s Solberg/Goncalves with $215,000 while third is USA’s Gibb/Patterson with $179,000, fourth Netherlands’ Alexander Brouwer/Robert Meeuwsen with $175,000, fifth is Netherlands’ Nummerdor/Varenhorst with $173,000, and sixth is Spain’s Pablo Herrera/Adrian Gavira with $159,375. USA’s Dalhausser/Lucena duo has moved up 19th in four events with $84,000..
WOMEN’S POINTS/EARNINGS
For the women after 15 FIVB World Tour events, Brazil’s new FIVB World Champions Agatha Bednarczuk/Barbara Seixas duo finished at the top of the point list with 6,350 points in 10 events, Brazil’s Larissa Franca/Talita Antunes were second with 5,840 points in nine events with Canada’s Heather Bansley/Sarah Pavan third with 5,070 points in 11 events. Fourth was Brazil’s Maria Antonelli/Juliana Felisberta with 4,710 in nine events and fifth is Netherlands’ Madelein Meppelink/Marleen Van Iersel with 4,590 points in nine events. With their gold medal in Xiamen, Switzerland’s Heidrich/Zumkehr finished 12th with 3,840 points in 10 events.
In the 2015 FIVB World Tour women’s season earnings after 15 events, Brazil’s Larissa/Talita lead with $335,000 after six wins in nine events, Brazil’s Agatha/Barbara are second with $295,000 with Brazil’s Antonelli/Juliana third with $203,500, fourth is Canada’s Bansley/Pavan with $192,375 and tied for fifth are Germany’s Ludwig/Walkenhorst tandem and Netherland’s Meppelink/Van Iersel tandem with $179,000. Switzerland’s Heidrich/Zumkehr have moved up to 18th with $95,800.
MEN’S FINAL FOURS
In 14 men’s tournament so far in 2015 on the FIVB World Tour, 14 countries have at least one final four placement. Leaders with 11 final four placements is Brazil (six gold medals, one silver, two bronze, two fourth places), tied for second with eight is the Netherlands (one gold medal, four silver medals, one bronze medal, two fourth places) and the United States (two gold medals, three silvers, one bronze, two fourth places). Tied for fourth with five final four finishes are Germany (one gold, two silver, one bronze, one fourth place), Italy (one gold medal, two bronze, two fourth places) and Latvia (two gold, one silver, one bronze, one fourth place). Seventh with three final four placements is Canada (two silver medals, one bronze). Tied for eighth with two final four placements each are Austria (one bronze, one fourth place), Poland (one silver, one bronze), Russia (two fourth places) and Spain (one gold, one bronze) and tied for 12th with one each are France (one bronze), Switzerland (one fourth place), and Turkey (one bronze).
WOMEN’S FINAL FOURS
In 15 women’s events this year, 12 countries have earned at least one final four finish. At the top with 21 total final four placements so far is Brazil (10 gold medals, six silver medals, three bronze medals, two fourth places). Second with eight final fours is Germany (two gold medals, one silver, one bronze, four fourth places), third with seven final fours is Canada (one gold medal, two silver, three bronze, one fourth place), fourth with six final fours is the Netherlands (three silvers, two bronze, one fourth place), fifth with five final fours is Switzerland (one gold, one silver, two bronze medals, one fourth place),while sixth with four final fours is the United States (one silver, one bronze, two fourth place finishes) and seventh with three is Italy (one gold, one bronze, one fourth place). Eighth with two is China (two fourth places) and tied for ninth with one final four each are Argentina (one silver), Australia (one bronze), Finland (one fourth place) and Poland (one bronze medal).
MEN’S WINNING PERCENTAGE
Based on percentage, statistically, in men’s action after 14 events with 25 matches minimum, leading at 83.1% is Brazil’s Alison/Bruno (54-11) while second at 80.0 % is USA’s Dalhausser/Lucena (24-6), Third at 74.1% is Latvia’s Samoilovs/J. Smedins (40-14), fourth at 73.3% is USA’s Gibb/Patterson (33-12) and fourth at 72.4% is Netherlands’ Alexander Brouwer/Robert Meeuwsen (42-16).
Brazil’s Cerutti/Schmidt (54-11) have the most match wins with 54, Netherlands’ Brouwer/Meeuwsen (42-16) duo second with 42, third with 40 wins is Latvia’s Samoilovs/J. Smedins (40-14), fourth with 38 wins is Germany’s Bockermann/Fluggen (38-20), fifth with 37 wins is Brazil’s Evandro Goncalves/Pedro Solberg (37-20) while sixth with 36 is USA’s Lucena/Theo Brunner (36-14) and seventh with 35 is Netherlands’ Reindeer Nummerdor/Christiaan Varenhorst (35-14).
WOMEN’S WINNING PERCENTAGE
For the women, following 15 events on the 2015 FIVB calendar with a minimum of 27 matches, Brazilian tandems have three of the top five winning percentages. Brazil’s Larissa/Talita lead at 92.9% (52-4), Brazil’s Agatha/Barbara are second at 86.4% (57-9), followed at 74.0% by Brazil’s Taiana Lima/Fernanda Alves (37-13). USA’s Kerri Walsh Jennings/April Ross is fourth at 72.5% (29-11), fifth is Netherlands’ Meppelink/Van Iersel at 71.4% (40-16) and Canada’s Heather Bansley/Sarah Pavan is sixth at 71.0% (44-18). Eighteenth at 57.9% is Switzerland’s Heidrich/Zumkehr (33-24)
Leading with the most match wins so far with 57 is Brazil’s Agatha/Barbara (57-9), second with 52 is Brazil’s Larissa/Talita (52-4) while third with 44 is Canada’s Bansley/Pavan (44-18). Tied for fourth with 40 wins each is Germany’s Laboureur/Sude (40-27) and Netherlands’ Meppelink/Van Iersel (40-16). Tied for sixth with 39 wins each Brazil’s Antonelli/Juliana (39-18) and China’s Fan Wang/Yuan Yue (39-25), eighth with 38 wins is Switzerland’s Forrer/Verge-Depre (38-24) and ninth with 37 wins is Brazil’s Taiana Lima/Fernanda Alves (37-13).
ON THE HORIZON
Next week following Fort Lauderdale, the 2016 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour with placement points counting in the FIVB Olympic Rankings for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will begin at the double-gender $150,000 FIVB Puerto Vallarta Open (Oct. 5-11) in Mexico. In addition to Puerto Vallarta, the 2015 portion of the 2016 FIVB World Tour will include the double gender $150,000 FIVB Antalya Open in Turkey and the men’s only $75,000 FIVB Doha Open in Qatar (Nov. 9-13).
GROWING HISTORY
The Swatch FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour will be the 329th men’s tournament since the FIVB began play in 1987 and the 293rd FIVB women’s tournament since they started competition in 1992.
FIVB 2015
Based in Lausanne, Switzerland as the international governing body for the Olympic sports of Beach Volleyball and Volleyball, the 2015 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour calendar features a record purse of US$9.6 million with a season that extends from late April to mid-December competing at 20 venues in 15 countries. The schedule includes five FIVB Grand Slams, the new Swatch FIVB Major Series of four events, seven FIVB Opens and a special Swatch FIVB World Tour Season Final in the United States. A showcase event will be the $1 million 2015 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in the Netherlands.
The Olympic qualification process begins 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 10 FIVB Open tournaments in 2015, eight double-gender, one men only and one women only, will 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 Open tournaments will 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.