GREEK GOLD AND SWISS BRONZE

SWATCH-FIVB World Tour 2005

Played before a jam-packed Vaagen Harbour centre court of more than 5’000 Beach Volleyball fans, the Greece tandem scored a 12-21, 21-16 and 15-10 win in 51 minutes over Juliana and Larissa, who dropped their second match of the week to Arvaniti and Karadassiou after losing in the fourth-round of the winner's bracket.

At 20 years, three months and 15 years, Arvaniti's gold medal enters her name into the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour record book ahead of Juliana, who captured her first international title last July in Mallorca with Larissa at 20 years, 11 months and 18 days.

With the win, Arvaniti and Karadassiou shared the $41’500 for Greece's first-ever SWATCH-FIVB World Tour gold medal for women. Arvaniti, who is in her third full-season on the international circuit, was also named the SWATCH most valuable player for the fourth women's ConocoPhillips event at Vaagen Harbour.

"Unbelievable," said Arvaniti after the match. "We felt no pressure today. Everyone was expecting the Brazilians to win, so we just concentrated on playing our game and let the match develop. We played poorly in the first set, but were able to regain our composure to be competitive against an aggressive team."

The 32-year Karadassiou, who has been playing on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour since 1997, called it a “great day for Greek Volleyball. This is our country's first medal at a major Beach Volleyball event. I never expected to win an event this quickly with Vicky. She is young and with a lot of energy. I think my experience helps her when she gets excited. She is a very capable player at such a young age.”

With six-straight wins this week, including four over higher seeded teams, the Greeks have now earned $97’500 for six starts this season. With a 21-11 record, Arvaniti and Karadassiou have now won two out of five matches against Juliana and Larissa this season as the Brazilians won twice at the Italian Open last month in Milan, including a 25-23 and 21-16 decision in the gold medal match.

The Brazilians proved too strong for their opponents when the most successful player in SWATCH-FIVB World history Emanuel Rego captured his sixth gold medal in seven ConocoPhillips events with Ricardo Santos.

In defeating third-seeded Benjamin Insfran and Harley Marques 21-16 and 21-19 in 48 minutes, the second-seeded Emanuel and Ricardo won their third-straight ConocoPhillips gold medal.
For Emanuel, the title at the US$560,000 ConocoPhillips Grand Slam before more than 5’000 Beach Volleyball was his 50th of his career with six being earned on the Vaagen Harbour sand with three different partners. Emanuel has also won five gold medals each at Austrian and Belgian sites.

”This is a very special place for the Brazilians”, said the 32-year old Emanuel, who captured the 2004 Athens Olympic gold medal with Ricardo. "We enjoy playing before the great crowds that this event attracts to this unique setting for Beach Volleyball. Maybe, we should play two or more events here every season!"

Brazil has now captured 15 of the 21 ConocoPhillips medals since 1999, including four All-Brazilian finals. With Patrick Heuscher and Stefan Kobel's bronze medal finish Sunday, Switzerland has collected three Vaagen Harbour medals followed by one each for Argentina, Australia and Germany.

Heuscher and Kobel captured the $21’500 bronze medal prize as they won by forfeit over Markus Dieckmann and Jonas Reckermann from Germany, who split $16’900 for fourth-place. Reckermann had to retire at the start of the bronze medal match due to an abdominal strain.

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