Sunday, 22 Dec 2024

Beach Update: U.S. Teams Shine at Vienna 5 Star Event

Four U.S. beach teams showcased their skills and achieved impressive fifth-place finishes at the Vienna Major, the highly anticipated 2018 five-star event on the FIVB World Tour.

Women’s Success at Vienna Major

All five U.S. women’s teams competing at the Vienna Major made it to the second round, displaying their prowess on the sand. However, the tournament format pitted four of these teams against each other at this stage.

In a highly competitive match, Kelley Larsen and Emily Stockman emerged victorious over Kelly Claes and Brittany Hochevar, winning 21-15 and 22-20. Alix Klineman and April Ross also triumphed, defeating Lauren Fendrick and Sarah Sponcil with a score of 21-12 in both sets.

Sara Hughes and Summer Ross advanced to the second round, where they faced Italy’s Marta Menegatti and Viktoria Orsi Toth. After a thrilling and closely contested match, Hughes and Ross emerged as the winners with a final score of 16-21, 27-25, 15-8.

Unfortunately, the journey ended for Larsen/Stockman as they faced a strong Brazilian duo, Maria Antonelli and Carolina Solberg, in the third round. Despite their best efforts, Larsen and Stockman were defeated with a score of 21-14, 21-17. Klineman/Ross also faced a tough challenge in the third round and fell to Sanne Keizer and Madelein Meppelink from the Netherlands, who secured victory with a score of 17-21, 25-23, 15-10. Hughes/Ross battled hard but were ultimately defeated by Barbora Hermannova and Marketa Slukova from the Czech Republic, with a score of 21-12, 21-12.

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Both Larsen/Stockman and Fendrick/Sponcil had to qualify for the main draw, showcasing their determination and resilience.

Strong Performance from U.S. Men

Jake Gibb and Taylor Crabb represented the U.S. men’s team and achieved an impressive fifth-place finish. They started their journey by winning their pool and then securing a victory against Spain’s Pablo Herrera and Adrian Gavira in a thrilling match that ended 27-29, 21-18, 15-11.

In the second round, Gibb and Crabb faced Russia’s Ilya Leshukov and Konstantin Semenov. They fought hard and emerged victorious with a score of 11-21, 21-19, 15-11. However, their journey came to an end in the third round, as they were defeated by Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan from Qatar, who won with scores of 21-11 and 21-18.

Gibb and Crabb had to qualify for the main draw, and they showcased their skills by eliminating the U.S. team of Bill Kolinske and Miles Evans in the second round of qualifiers.

Impressive Performance by Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena

Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena participated in the Vienna Major and displayed their exceptional skills. They had a remarkable performance in pool play, winning one match and losing one. In the first round, they defeated Austria’s Robin Seidl and Philipp Waller with a score of 21-17 and 21-15.

However, they faced a tough challenge in the second round against the Netherlands’ Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen. The match was closely contested, but Brouwer and Meeuwsen emerged as the winners with a score of 26-28, 24-22, 15-10.

FAQs

Q: How many U.S. women’s teams participated in the Vienna Major?
A: Five U.S. women’s teams participated in the Vienna Major.

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Q: Did any U.S. men’s teams reach the podium at the Vienna Major?
A: While no U.S. men’s teams reached the podium, Jake Gibb and Taylor Crabb finished in an impressive fifth place.

Q: Did any U.S. teams have to qualify for the main draw at the Vienna Major?
A: Yes, both Kelley Larsen/Emily Stockman and Lauren Fendrick/Sarah Sponcil had to qualify for the main draw.

Conclusion

The U.S. beach teams displayed their exceptional skills and determination at the Vienna Major. Despite fierce competition, four teams achieved remarkable fifth-place finishes, demonstrating their potential on the international stage. The performances of these teams highlight the depth and talent of the U.S. beach volleyball program.

For more information about U.S. beach volleyball and updates on upcoming events, visit Alpinetgheep.