20/07/2012 19:00
Two German duos storm to semi-finals of women's tournament in Assen
2012 CEV U23 Beach Volleyball European Championship
Assen, Netherlands, July 20, 2012. German strength in women’s Beach Volleyball was confirmed this Friday in the Dutch city of Assen, when Germany situated its two teams in the semi-finals of the female competition of 2012 CEV U23 Beach Volleyball European Championship. The German duos Aulenbrock/Bieneck and Laboureur/Walkenhorst made their way to the semi-finals, as Chaika/Abalakina from Russia and Kolosinska/Paszek from Poland also gained the ticket to the last day of competition and will try to avoid an all-German final.
The women’s tournament at the 2012 CEV U23 Beach Volleyball European Championship proved to be as ambivalent as the weather in the Dutch city of Assen. However, one fact was clear in the third day: the predominance of the German teams, who confirmed their power in a successful day for the young female players from the central European country.
The path of Germany to semi-finals started in the third round, when both German teams met in a match that would guarantee at least a duo from this country in semi-finals. The all-German match in the third round was clearly dominated by Laboureur/Walkenhorst, who beat Aulenbrock/Bieneck 2-0 (21-15, 21-17), thus winning the qualification for the semi-finals and confirming their condition of candidates to title.
Aulenbrock/Bieneck also ended up qualifying for the semi-finals after beating Galova/Vankova from the Czech Republic 2-0 (21-19, 21-12) in the losers round, consequently completing the German accomplishment in the tournament. The second duo from Germany will clash in the semi-finals against Chaika/Abalakina from Russia, who qualified directly from the third round. The Russian team caused an upset after beating Polish duo Kolosinska/Paszek, since the team from Poland had reached the deciding stage of competition as one of the favourites of the tournament. However, Chaika/Abalakina proved to be superior and candidate to gold, as they won the spot in the semi-finals in a controlled match 2-0 (21-16, 21-14).
The disappointment for the host country came in the last match of the day in the women’s tournament. The Dutch team Braakman/Sinnema - the last of the Dutch squads in competition - could not qualify to the semi-finals, after losing 1-2 (25-23, 13-21, 12-15) in a disputed tie-break match against Kolosinska/Paszek from Poland. The team from Poland showed its experience and power in the decisive period of a very even match and eliminated the local heroines, even overcoming the support of the audience present at Koopmansplein venue in Assen.
“It was the most difficult match for us”, admitted Daria Paszek; “I had already lost against them in the FIVB Junior World Championship in Canada last year, so I knew how good they were. But I think we have played very good”. The Polish player expressed her clear wishes for the last day of tournament: “I hope we can win, especially after this match today. Our team, Kinga and I, still can improve but I think we can play at a very good level; I am sure that we can make it to the finals and I hope we can win”, said the 20 years old athlete.
Therefore, the 2012 CEV U23 Beach Volleyball European Championship heads to an exciting final day. Glory awaits to four teams that will engage in two spectacular semi-finals.
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