Germany`s national beach volleyball team, bolstered by FIVB Volleyball Empowerment coach support, secured the women`s CEV Beach Volley Nations Cup in Espinho, Portugal, last week. Other teams benefiting from the program, Ukraine and the Netherlands, earned silver medals in the women`s and men`s competitions respectively. Norway took home the men`s trophy.
The German Volleyball Federation`s beach volleyball division has received USD 168,000 in coach support from FIVB Volleyball Empowerment. Their national teams train under Christoph Dieckmann, a former European champion and two-time Olympian. Since 2022, the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program has also significantly supported the Ukraine Volleyball Federation, providing USD 670,000 to help continue their volleyball and beach volleyball activities.
In the women`s CEV Nations Cup Finals, Germany dominated Pool A, winning all three ties against Lithuania, the Netherlands, and France without dropping a single match and losing only one set. This dominant performance propelled them directly to the semifinals, where they continued their winning streak against Spain, coming back from a set down in both matches to secure victory.
Ukraine advanced to the grand final with an equally impressive run, not losing a single set in their Pool B encounters against Spain, Estonia, and hosts Portugal, nor in their semifinal tie against the Netherlands.
In Sunday`s championship match, Sandra Ittlinger and Anna-Lena Grune gave Germany an initial lead by overcoming Valentyna Davidova and Anhelina Khmil 2-1 (18-21, 21-14, 15-13). Svenja Muller and Cinja Tillmann then sealed Germany`s triumph with a decisive 2-0 (21-18, 21-8) win over Maryna Hladun and Tetiana Lazarenko.
The Netherlands Volleyball Federation (Nevobo) has also benefited from FIVB Volleyball Empowerment, receiving USD 217,600 for national beach volleyball coach support. Their men`s national teams are coached by Michiel van der Kuip, a 1995 European champion as a player, and his team.
In Espinho, the Dutch men`s team navigated their Pool A campaign flawlessly, winning all six matches against Lithuania, Spain, and France while dropping only one set. They lost another set in their semifinal against Austria but advanced to the final, ensuring at least a silver medal.
Norway, featuring the world`s top duo and Olympic champions Anders Mol and Christian Sorum, dominated Pool B. They won all matches against Austria, Denmark, and hosts Portugal without losing a single game, then swept their semifinal tie against Spain in straight sets.
The final started promisingly for the Netherlands, with Alexander Brouwer and Steven van de Velde securing a 2-0 (21-11, 21-17) victory over Norway`s Hendrik Mol and Mathias Berntsen. However, an injury to Yorick de Groot in the first set of the second match forced him and Stefan Boermans to forfeit, leading to a decisive golden set. The Netherlands fielded a mixed pair of Stefan Boermans and Alexander Brouwer, while Norway countered with Anders Mol and Mathias Berntsen. The Norwegian pair ultimately claimed the trophy with a 15-12 win.
