Teams from the United States, Germany and Russia powered through the country quota of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour 4-star tournament in Gstaad on Monday, the first day of action in the Swiss Alps.
The American women’s country quota was the only to feature multiple matches and it started with Corine Quiggle and Allie Wheeler coming from behind to upset Terese Cannon and Kelly Reeves in three sets (19-21, 21-19, 15-11).
In the deciding match, the duo, which won a one-star event in Sofia, Bulgaria, in May, started stronger and defeated Rio 2016 Olympian Brooke Sweat and her partner Delaney Knudsen in straight sets (21-19, 21-13).
Germany also had a country quota for their women and Sandra Ittlinger and Kim Behrens claimed the nation’s berth in the qualification tournament with a hard-fought, 2-1 (20-22, 22-20, 21-19) win over Sarah Schneider and Svenja Muller.
The only men’s country quota playoff reunited two Russian tandems and saw Rio 2016 Olympian and 2019 FIVB World Championship bronze medalist Nikita Liamin and his partner Taras Myskiv advance with a 2-0 (21-18, 21-16) win over countrymen Danii Kuvichka and Anton Kislytsin.
The qualification tournament in Gstaad will take place on Tuesday and will feature 27 teams in each gender competing for the final eight main draw spots.
Quick links:
FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour - Gstaad
Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
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