FAMILY REUNION AT HIGH NOON

Nestea European Championship Tour 2005

Paul Laciga (SUI) attacking against his brother Martin's block

Family reunion at high noon

The Turkish Open on the NESTEA European Championship Tour on Cleopatra Beach are also marked by sibling-rivalries

Alanya, 13 May 2005: It seems natural that siblings should not fight each other when they meet. After all, they grew up together and belong under the roof of the same family. That should hold true for Beach Volleyball pros as well. But when pairs of brothers like Paul and Martin Laciga or Markus and Christoph Dieckmann meet on the court, their family ties are forgotten. At least as long points and bonuses are on the line like currently at the Turkish Open on the NESTEA European Championship Tour.

Following the will of the ranking list, the first top match on Cleopatra Beach in the men’s tournament featured a match-up between the Lacigas with their new partners Sascha Heyer (playing with Paul Laciga) and Markus Egger (teamed up with Martin Laciga). To add to the drama, Egger and Heyer have a long and close relationship to look back on as well; after all, the two beach volleyball pros have travelled the world over the past four years as a team. “It’s definitely strange to be playing against my former partner now”, Sascha Heyer says. “But that doesn’t count. We both want to win.”

The same of course is true for the Lacigas. The history of the two brothers who never spoke to each other has been well documented. The more exciting it was to follow their first match-up in an international top tournament like Alanya. Of course it was a match marked by strong emotions, which Heyer/Laciga won in three sets (16:21, 21:15, 18:16). Their comments afterwards made apparent how much the match affected them. Martin Laciga: “In the past you always asked yourself who made the mistake, my brother or me. That was always a great strain between us. Now everything is different. Now you want to beat the brother.” And Paul Laciga says: “That was a very important match, because I always want to win, especially against my brother.” Both teams however showed signs of growing pains during the match. “It will take the entire season, but it will work out”, Paul Laciga says. After all, they are all excellent individual players used to the toughest international competition.

Just like the Dieckmann-twins: Markus and partner Jonas Reckermann (2004 European champions) have secured at least fifth place at the end of the first tournament day. Christoph Dieckmann and Andreas Scheuerpflug however have already been eliminated and will finish ninth. The unbeaten teams in the men’s tournament, aside from Dieckmann/Reckermann, include France’s Canet/Hamel, Hererra/Mesa from Spain and Switzerland’s Heuscher/Kobel, the 2004 Olympic bronze medallists. While Heyer/Laciga have thrown in the towel due to injury and finished ninth, Egger/Laciga will play Norway’s Horrem/Pettersen in the losers round tomorrow.

In the women’s tournament the semi-finalists are set: Perrotta/Gattelli of Italy will meet Pohl/Rau from Germany. The second semi-final will feature Kadjik/Mooren from the Netherlands against Hakedal/Toerlen from Norway. The semi-final matches will be held tomorrow at 11 and 12 am local time. The bronze-medal game begins at 3 pm, followed by the women’s final at 4pm. Two pairs of siblings also played in the women’s tournament: Erika and Emilia Nyström from Finland finished ninth, while the Czech Republic’s Katerina and Marketa Tychnova reached thirteenth place.

By the way: Whoever thought that Martin and Paul Laciga’s separation on the court would have repercussions in the form of a family truce off the court was mistaken. As Martin Laciga said in Alanya: “I guess we will only argue as brothers now...”

Press Release (PDF)

Background information on the NESTEA European Championship Tour

The NESTEA European Championship Tour is the highest ranked series of European Beach Volleyball tournaments that promotes the sport and its star players on a European level. The series of tournaments culminates into the European Championship Final as the season’s highlight.

For further information please visit www.eurobeachtour.com and/or contact the Communication Managers of the NESTEA European Championship Tour Klaus Wegener and Felix Meininghaus at communications@eurobeachtour.com.

Background information on the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball

The CEV is the FIVB supporting institution responsible for governing 54 National Volleyball Federations throughout Europe and is recognised as such by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) for Volleyball and Beach Volleyball. The CEV has the authority and responsibility for organising all European Competitions, especially the NESTEA European Championship Tour (Men & Women).

For further information please contact the CEV Head Office in Luxembourg, Olivier Mottier at olivier.mottier@cev.lu or + 352 25 46 46 25.

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GSM is dedicated to the development and implementation of innovation in sports and entertainment. The company positions and markets international sports and entertainment properties on behalf of the respective rights-holders. Besides, it offers all services related to the marketing of commercial rights - media, sponsorship and licensing/merchandising rights as well as development of sports brands. GSM, based in Zurich (Switzerland) develops, promotes and markets the NESTEA European Championship Tour within a long-term partnership with the European Volleyball Confederation CEV.

For further information please contact Global Sports Marketing, Christian Scholbrock at
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