Recent national beach volleyball tournaments saw new champions crowned in Bulgaria and Estonia, while Germany and Slovakia successfully hosted their respective national tour events. Athletes from across these nations competed fiercely for top honors and crucial tour points.
Bulgaria
Women`s National Championship
Irena Mishonova and Desislava Nikolova emerged as the Bulgarian women’s national champions at the recent Beach Volleyball Tour Finals in Burgas. As the second seeds, they secured a decisive 2-0 (21-15, 21-9) victory against Desislava Todeva and Darina Kindova in the final match. Stefani Kyoseva and Veronika Ivanova claimed the bronze medals, overcoming top-seeded Ivet Gavrailova and Eva Petrova in a 2-1 (21-13, 19-21, 15-9) upset for third place.
Men`s National Championship
In the men’s category, top seeds Dimitar Kalchev and Dimitar Mehandzhiyski successfully defended their national title. Their gold medal showdown against second seeds Zahari Zgurov and Georgi Antov saw them triumph 2-1 (21-16, 19-21, 15-11). The bronze went to veteran indoor volleyball stars and twin brothers, Georgi and Valentin Bratoev, who defeated Ivelin Iliev and Denislav Dimitrov 2-0 (21-18, 21-13) in the third-place match.
Estonia
The 2025 Olerex Estonian Beach Volleyball Championships took place last week in the capital, Tallinn.
Men`s National Championship
Kaur Erik Kais and Jaan Rebel, who began their campaign from the qualifiers, ascended to the top of the men`s podium. They clinched the national title with a dramatic 2-0 (21-14, 30-28) upset over top-seeded Mart Tiisaar and Dimitriy Korotkov in the final. Kusti Nolvak and Rasmus Meius secured the bronze, beating third seeds Siim Ennemuist and Karl Maidle 2-0 (21-19, 21-14).
Women`s National Championship
Bracket leaders Heleene Hollas and Liisa Remmelg fulfilled expectations, winning the women’s crown after a hard-fought 2-1 (21-16, 19-21, 15-12) victory against second-seeded Liisa-Lotta Jurgenson and Eva Liisa Kuivonen in the gold medal match. The bronze medal was earned by 17-year-old Marta-Mia Ploomipuu and Hannemai Hanimagi, who swept Kristi Nolvak and Erle Puvi 2-0 (21-19, 21-12) in the third-place playoff.
Germany
Germany hosted the first of two consecutive German Beach Tour stops in Berlin.
Women`s German Beach Tour
Nele Barber and Melanie Gernert captured the women’s trophy at the Berlin event. The third-seeded pair secured a 2-0 (21-17, 21-19) final victory over Anna Behlen and Sarah Schulz. The semifinalists, top-seeded Paula Schurholz and Lea Kunst, along with second-seeded Hanna-Marie Schieder and Karla Borger, jointly shared the third place in the final standings.
Men`s German Beach Tour
In the men’s final, third-seeded Austrians Alexander Horst and Moritz Pristauz emerged victorious after a 2-1 (21-18, 18-21, 15-10) battle, successfully upsetting bracket leaders Benedikt Sagstetter and Jonas Sagstetter. Robin Sowa and Jonas Reinhardt, alongside qualifiers Cedrik Moede and Luis Henrichs, jointly held the third position.
Slovakia
Slovakia’s Nike Summer Beach Tour saw exciting action at the Valcianska dolina stop.
Men`s Nike Summer Beach Tour
Top seeds Lubos Nemec and Adrian Petruf claimed the men’s gold, sweeping the final 2-0 (21-13, 21-14) against Michal Trubac and Igor Horvath. The bronze medal playoff offered a thrilling three-set duel, with Tomas Patuc and Peter Michalovic winning 2-1 (18-21, 21-10, 15-9) against Miroslav Janto and Lukas Kralovic.
Women`s Nike Summer Beach Tour
The women’s top seeds, Eva Elekova and Andrea Bundzelova, also lived up to their ranking, celebrating a 2-0 (21-16, 21-17) gold medal victory over third-seeded Andrea Spevarova and Lesia Slezakova. Second-seeded Zuzana Reginova and Kristina Harmanova secured bronze after a dominant 2-0 (21-14, 21-11) sweep in the third-place game against the mixed Slovak-Czech pairing of Katarina Kapralova and Valentyna Hynkova.
