FIVB Women's Beach - February 24-March 1, 1998

SCHEDULE

QUALIFICATION  24-25 February
MAIN DRAW      26 February - March 1

The Brazilians Adriana Behar and Shelda won today (Sunday, 1st March) the US$ 170,000 Womens Brazil Open, in Copacabana, first tournament of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour 1998.

They beat the Australian team Manser/Pottharst by 12/3, 12/8, winning in Rio for the first time. Brazil also got the third place in the first match of the day, when Jackie Silva/Sandra defeated Friedrichsen/Müsch, from Germany, by 15/6, in 37 minutes.

Adriana/Shelda, champions of last years FIVB World Tour, received a prize money of US$ 32,000 and 340 points in the World ranking. "I feel like Im in paradise", said Shelda immediatly after the match.

In the first set the Brazilian team had no problems to win by 12/3, in 24 minutes, with a very good service and some mistakes of the opponents. In the second set, that lasted 64 minutes, Manser and Pottharst were more concentrated and made it difficult to Adriana and Shelda to win by 12/8.

The Brazilian team needed a lot of patience and also a good service to win in two sets and celebrate the title with a crowd of almost 7,000 people. In a real summer day in Rio, the matches were played with a temperature of 42º C.

Asked about the next Olympic Games, in Sidney 2,000, Shelda said its still too early to think about it. She declared their next goals are the other tournaments of the World Tour and the GoodWill Games, that will be held in July, in New York.

Brazilian teams win in Rio since 1995. The champions in 1995 and 96 were Jackie/Sandra. In 1997, Adriana Samuel and Monica took the first place.

Despite the good results, Adriana and Shelda didnt accept the title of "best players of the World". "It would be too much", rejected Adriana Behar. "We are playing very well. Thats all", she completed.

The Australian team didnt look disappointed and considered "fantastic" to be in the final after only two months playing together. "The Brazilian team is really fantastic and it was very difficult to pass. They also have a very good service", said Pottharst.

Thirty two teams from 13 countries took part of the main draw in Rio: Brazil, Australia, Germany, France, Portugal, Japan, The Netherlands, Czech Republic, United States, Mexico, Italy, Canada and Denmark.

The next tournament of the World Tour is scheduled to Toronto, Canada, from 17 to 21st June.

Jackie/Sandra and Friedrichsen/Müsch play tomorrow (Sunday) for the third place of this first leg of the 98 World Tour, at 8h30 AM. Immediatly after, Manser/Pottharst face Adriana/Shelda and the Brazilian fans, who today were about 5,000 people in the arena, despite the 41º C of temperature and the humidity of 88%.

The Australians players consider "fantastic" their performance until now. This is their first international tournament as a team, as they have been playing together since last December. "This is our first step and we know we have to improve a lot until the Olympic Games", said Manser, talking about Sidney 2,000.

Pottharst affirmed their goal is the gold medal in Sidney, but she knows its not going to be easy: "I think every team will improve until the Olympic Games, but we have a good support in our country and win the gold medal would be fantastic." In Atlanta 1996, Pottharst won the bronze medal, playing with Nathalie Cook.

For tomorrow, they expect a difficult match, but they said they got a lot of confidence through this tournament. "We are very happy and we want to stay on the top of the World Tour", declared Pottharst.

After the defeat today, Jackie and Sandra want to recover and get the third place tomorrow. "We made a lot of mistakes and the match became easier to the Australians. Now, we want to be the third", said Sandra.

In the second semifinal, Adriana Behar/Shelda had less difficulties to beat the German team. The Brazilian players showed they are in a very good shape in this tournament. Until now, they have not lost.

For tomorrow, they expect a tough match, although they dont know the Australian team: "We dont know how they play, but well get all the information about them this afternoon", said Adriana Behar, very happy with her performance.

The winners of the title will get a prize money of US$ 32,000 and 340 points in the World ranking.

The semifinals will be played tomorrow (Saturday) and the winners will fight on Sunday for the title, the prize money of US$ 32,000 and 340 points in the World ranking. At 9 AM Jackie/Sandra play against Manser/Pottharst and immediatly after Adriana/Shelda face Friedrichsen/Müsch.

The first team to qualify was Jackie/Sandra, who beat Fontana/Hanley, from the US (15/2), and Friedrichsen/Müsch, from Germany (15/10). Very happy, Jackie Silva said Sandras block had been fundamental against the German team.

"Sandra was perfect in the block", declared Jackie. She also remembered that the strong heat made it more difficult to their opponents. "They came from a very cold winter", said Jackie. Today, the temperature was 37º C with 71% of humidity.

Adriana Behar/Shelda got a place in the semifinals with two victories by 15/11. The first against Masakayan/Kirby (US), and the second one against Adriana Samuel/Monica (BRA).

The Australian team Manser/Pottharst defeated Dumont/Tough (CAN), by 15/4, then beat Fontana/Hanley (US) by 15/7, and decided the place in the semifinals against Adriana/Monica. They beat the champions of Rios last year World Tour by 15/9 and were really very happy.

"Weve heen playing together for only three months and were very tired because we had to play four matches today", explained Kerry Pottharst, bronze medalist in the Atlanta Olympic Games. "Now we have nothing to loose. I think weve already got a fantastic result."

Friedrichsen/Müsch beat McPeak/Arce (US) by 16/14, lost to Jackie/Sandra (15/10) and finally defeated Cook/Clarke (AUS) by 15/10.

The elimination of the American team McPeak/Arce was a great surprise in the tournament. Third placed in the World ranking, they lost their two matches today. In the first, Friedrichsen/Münch beat them by 16/14. After, they lost to Manser/Pottharst, from Australia, by 15/11.

"I cant explain what happened. Were really desapointed because we were prepared, in good shape. I have no excuses to give and I dont know what to say. Everything went wrong", said Holly McPeak.

The Olympic champions Jackie Silva/Sandra, the Olympic finalists Adriana Samuel/Monica and the champions of last years World Tour, Adriana Behar/Shelda, won their two matches and qualified to the second day of the main draw, tomorrow (Friday).

On the American side, McPeak/Arce, Masakayan/Kirby and Fontana/Hanley also won twice, going directly to the second day.

Jackie/Sandra defeated Rigaux/Prawerman, from France, by 15/8, and Takahashi/Saiki, from Japan, by 15/3. "We had two easy matches. I think tomorrow (Friday) well have more difficulties", said Jackie Silva.

Adriana/Monica beat Mayra/Laura, from Mexico (15/3), and Bruschini/Solazzi, from Italy (17/15). Adriana/Shelda had easy matches, against Laura/Serrano, from Mexico (15/0) and Kadjik/Kadjik, from The Netherlands (15/3).

McPeak/Arce defeated Villareal/Trevino, from Mexico, by 15/1, and Cook/Clarke, from Australia, by 15/9. Masakayan and Kirby, who came from the qualifying tournament, defeated the Japanese team Ishizaka/Seiko by 15/5, and De Marinis/Nascimento, from Italy, by 15/2. Fontana/Hanley beat Storch/Gougeon, from Canada, by 15/4 and Gerusa/Rejane, from Brazil, by 15/5.

Adriana Bento/Ana Richa, from Brazil, and Friedrichsen/Müsch, from Germany, also qualified today without any defeat.

The other teams qualified for tomorrow are Kadjik/Kadjik (NED), De Marinis/Nascimento (ITA), Storch/Gougeon (CAN), Magda/Vanessa and Gerusa/Rejane (BRA), Poppinga/Rock (US), Manser/Pottharst and Cook/Clarke (AUS).

Tomorrow there will be 18 matches, with 16 teams fighting for the four places in Saturdays semifinals. Brazil and the US are still the favourites for the title, but things may change, as says Radamés Lattari Filho, indoor Brazilian mens senior national headcoach, who watched the matches. "I think all teams improved and another countries will be fighting for better places in a near future", said Lattari.

The 40 matches were played under a temperature of 35º C and 89% of humidity, in another cloudy day in Rio de Janeiro.

The first team to qualify today was Ana Richa/Adriana Bento, who defeated Blomquist/Schaefer, from the US, by 15/12.

Magda/Vanessa, qualified after having beaten Alexandra/Sandra, also from Brazil, by 15/2. Before, they had lost to Masakayan/Kirby, by 15/10. "We had to do our best in the second match, specially in the service", affirmed Vanessa.

With teams from other countries already eliminated, Brazilian and American teams had to play extra matches do decide the last two places in the qualifying. Ivanise/Albetisa defeated Michele/Monica by 15/5 and then Alexandra/Sandra by 15/8, getting a place in the main draw.

It was another reason of joy to Albetisa, 29 years old, who knew she is pregnant a few days before the competition. Her baby will be born in seven months and she wants to continue playing at least until April.

In the American side, Kirby/Masakayan and Blomquist/Schaefer had to face each other in a difficult match. But Kirby/Masakayan showed they are in a better shape and won by 15/11. With this result, the American team entered the main draw without a defeat in the qualifying.

The seven matches of this last day of the qualifying were played in a cloudy but hot day, with a temperature of 39º C and 84% humidity.

Yesterday (Tuesday), one team from France (Rigaux/Prawerman) and three from Mexico (Mayra/Laura, Laura/Myrna and Norma/Blanca) got their places in the main draw.

From tomorrow until Sunday, 32 teams from 13 countries will start playing for the title of the first competition of the World Tour this year.

Teams from Brazil, United States, Canada, Denmark, Australia, Italy, France, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, Portugal, Czech Republic and Germany will try to show their best volleyball in the sands of Copacabana.

For the third time, Rio opens the FIVB World Tour and the Brazilian teams will try to keep a title they win since 1995. Its not an impossible dream, as last year three Brazilian teams finished the season among the four first places of the World ranking: Adriana Behar and Shelda (first), Adriana Samuel and Monica (second) and the Olympic champions Jackie Silva and Sandra (fourth).

The team placed third last year is from the United States: Mc Peak and Arce, who are already in the main draw, that starts on Thursday. They arrived in Rio with a goal: put an end in the Brazilians supremacy. "The problem is that they are used to the heat and we are not in our season", said Holly McPeak.

Today, four teams got their place in the main draw: Rigaux/Prawerman, from France, Mayra/Laura, Laura/Myrna and Norma/Blanca, the three from Mexico. The other four places will be decided tomorrow (Wednesday). According to the FIVB rules, Brazil can also have three teams in the main draw and the US, one team.

For Liz Masakayan and Carolyn Kirby, from the US, who are playing the qualifying, the heat made everything even more difficult. "We arrived yesterday (Monday) and it was cold in our country", justified Kirby.

She said their goal in this tournament is, first of all, enter the main draw and then be the best American team: "We are not in our best shape and we do not expect to win, but we want to improve our volleyball and get better through the season."

Today, Masakayan and Kirby won their two matches, both against Brazilian teams: they defeated Faiza/Samira by 15/7 and Ivanise/Albetiza by 15/8. Another American team that won two matches today is Blomquist/Schaefer, who beat Mayra/Laura by 15/11 and Elenice/Leninha, from Brazil, by 15/0.

The players really found a sunny weather and a heat of 32º C in a day in wich people wanted to get a rest after three days of samba.

FINAL RANKING

Rk. Players Country Points Prize (US$) Bonus (US$) 1 Adriana Behar-Shelda BRA 340 16,000.00 16,000.00 2 Manser-Pottharst AUS 306 10,400.00 12,600.00 3 Jackie Silva-Sandra Pires BRA 272 6,400.00 8,600.00 4 Friedrichsen-Munsch GER 238 4,800.00 7,200.00 5 Cook-Clarke AUS 204 3,600.00 5,400.00 Adriana Samuel-Monica BRA 204 3,600.00 5,400.00 7 Fontana-Hanley USA 170 2,400.00 3,600.00 Masakayan-Kirby USA 170 2,400.00 3,600.00 9 Adriana Bento-Ana Richa BRA 136 2,000.00 2,500.00 Gerusa-Rejane BRA 136 2,000.00 2,500.00 Schoon Kadijk-Kadijk R. NED 136 2,000.00 2,500.00 McPeak-Arce USA 136 2,000.00 2,500.00 13 Magda-Nessa BRA 102 1,600.00 1,600.00 Dumont-Tough CAN 102 1,600.00 1,600.00 De Marinis-Nascimento ITA 102 1,600.00 1,600.00 Poppinga-Rock USA 102 1,600.00 1,600.00 17 Straton-Wilson AUS 68 1,200.00 800.00 Ivanise-Albetiza BRA 68 1,200.00 800.00 Dosoudilova-Celbova CZE 68 1,200.00 800.00 Hudcova-Tobiasova CZE 68 1,200.00 800.00 Bruschini-Solazzi ITA 68 1,200.00 800.00 Takahashi-Teru Saiki JPN 68 1,200.00 800.00 Zè Maria-Sarmento POR 68 1,200.00 800.00 Reno-Youngs USA 68 1,200.00 800.00 25 Drakich-Harkness CAN 34 800.00 600.00 Storch-Gougeon CAN 34 800.00 600.00 Jorgensen-Sommer DEN 34 800.00 600.00 Rigaux-Prawerman FRA 34 800.00 600.00 Ishizaka-Rii Seike JPN 34 800.00 600.00 Laura Leticia-Serrano Ochoa MEX 34 800.00 600.00 Mayra-Laura A. MEX 34 800.00 600.00 Villareal-Trevino MEX 34 800.00 600.00

MAIN DRAW

Rk.	Players	Country		Points	Prize (US$)	Bonus (US$)
QUALIFIED	Adriana Bento-Ana Richa	BRA
	Ivanise-Albetiza	BRA
	Magda-Nessa	BRA
	Rigaux-Prawerman	FRA
	Laura Leticia-Serrano Ochoa	MEX
	Mayra-Laura A.	MEX
	Villareal-Trevino	MEX
	Masakayan-Kirby	USA
33	Alexandra-Sandra Mathias	BRA		28
	Elenice-Leninha	BRA		28
	Michele-Monica Rocha	BRA		28
	Blomquist-Schaefer	USA		28
37	Barry-Goodfellow	CAN		20
	Lussier-Malowney	CAN		20
	Gros-Berjonneau	FRA		20
41	Faiza-Samira	BRA		14
	Inward-Parsons	CAN		14

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Qualifications Results

No.	Date	Team A	Team B	Result	Time
Round 1
1	24 Feb	Inward-Parsons CAN	Faiza-Samira BRA	14-16	0:38
2	24 Feb	Michele-Monica Rocha BRA	Alexandra-Sandra Mathias BRA	17-15	0:51
Round 2
3	24 Feb	Masakayan-Kirby USA	Faiza-Samira BRA	15-7	0:47
4	24 Feb	Ivanise-Albetiza BRA	Gros-Berjonneau FRA	15-8	0:29
5	24 Feb	Leipham-O'Hara USA	Laura Leticia-Serrano Ochoa MEX	Team A out of tourn.
6	24 Feb	Villareal-Trevino MEX	Magda-Nessa BRA	8-15	0:27
7	24 Feb	Blomquist-Schaefer USA	Elenice-Leninha BRA	15-0	0:22
8	24 Feb	Lussier-Malowney CAN	Mayra-Laura A. MEX	11-15	0:38
9	24 Feb	Barry-Goodfellow CAN	Rigaux-Prawerman FRA	3-15	0:22
10	24 Feb	Michele-Monica Rocha BRA	Adriana Bento-Ana Richa BRA	0-15	0:15
Loser are ranked 41th
11	24 Feb	Inward-Parsons CAN	Michele-Monica Rocha BRA	10-15	0:30
12	24 Feb	Alexandra-Sandra Mathias BRA	Faiza-Samira BRA	15-12	0:36
Round 3
13	24 Feb	Masakayan-Kirby USA	Ivanise-Albetiza BRA	15-8	0:40
14	24 Feb	Laura Leticia-Serrano Ochoa MEX	Magda-Nessa BRA	5-15	0:27
15	24 Feb	Blomquist-Schaefer USA	Mayra-Laura A. MEX	15-11	0:39
16	24 Feb	Rigaux-Prawerman FRA	Adriana Bento-Ana Richa BRA	15-17	0:45
Loser are ranked 37th
17	24 Feb	Michele-Monica Rocha BRA	Barry-Goodfellow CAN	15-8	0:24
18	24 Feb	Lussier-Malowney CAN	Elenice-Leninha BRA	9-15	0:33
19		Villareal-Trevino MEX	Bye
20	24 Feb	Gros-Berjonneau FRA	Alexandra-Sandra Mathias BRA	4-15	0:16
Loser are ranked 33th
22	24 Feb	Elenice-Leninha BRA	Ivanise-Albetiza BRA	13-15	0:48
Playoff
25	25 Feb	Masakayan-Kirby USA	Magda-Nessa BRA	15-10	0:47
26	25 Feb	Blomquist-Schaefer USA	Adriana Bento-Ana Richa BRA	12-15	1:03
27	25 Feb	Michele-Monica Rocha BRA	Ivanise-Albetiza BRA	5-15	0:28
28	25 Feb	Alexandra-Sandra Mathias BRA	Magda-Nessa BRA	2-15	0:18
29	25 Feb	Ivanise-Albetiza BRA	Blomquist-Schaefer USA	9-15	0:49
30	25 Feb	Alexandra-Sandra Mathias BRA	Ivanise-Albetiza BRA	8-15	0:40
31	25 Feb	Blomquist-Schaefer USA	Masakayan-Kirby USA	11-15	0:52

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Open, 26 Feb.- 01 March 1998

The Participating Teams

Main Draw ( 26 Feb.-01 March)

Pos. Team name Ctry. Points Seed 1 McPeak-Arce USA 1,788 1.60 2 Adriana Behar-Shelda BRA 2,026 2.60 3 Adriana Samuel-Monica BRA 1,810 2.60 4 Jackie Silva-Sandra Pires BRA 1,712 2.80 5 Fontana-Hanley USA 874 5.50 6 Reno-Youngs USA 736 5.75 7 Friedrichsen-Müsch GER 1,102 6.00 8 Gerusa-Rejane BRA 210 6.00 9 Dosoudilova-Celbova CZE 732 7.00 10 Manser-Pottharst AUS 900 9.50 11 Bruschini-Solazzi ITA 926 9.80 12 Poppinga-Rock USA 658 10.33 13 Schoon Kadijk-Kadijk R. NED 446 10.50 14 Cook-Clarke AUS 900 10.80 15 Straton-Wilson AUS 478 13.00 16 Hudcova-Tobiasova CZE 414 13.80 17 Takahashi-Teru Saiki JPN 482 15.00 18 Dumont-Tough CAN 452 15.60 19 De Marinis-Nascimento ITA 418 16.20 20 Zè Maria-Sarmento POR 342 17.80 21 Drakich-Harkness CAN 401 18.06 22 Ishizaka-Rii Seike JPN 299 18.60 23 Jorgensen-Sommer DEN 254 18.60 24 Storch-Gougeon CAN 218 21.00

. plus eight teams qualifying through the QT
Notes:
- points are as per standings in the World Ranking on entry date
                              - exact seed of each team will be communicated on February 25 (Technical Meeting)
# Wild Cards
*

Qualification Tournament ( 24-25 February)

Pos. Team name Ctry. Points Seed 1 Masakayan-Kirby USA 612 5.87 2 Blomquist-Schaefer USA 474 8.50 3 Adriana Bento-Ana Richa BRA 558 9.00 4 Magda-Nessa BRA 309 14.33 5 Ivanise-Albetiza BRA 74 15.00 6 Leipham-O'Hara USA 277 16.33 7 Barry-Goodfellow CAN 147 20.66 8 Gros-Berjonneau FRA 150 22.33 9 Mayra-Laura A. MEX 152 22.66 10 Rigaux-Prawerman FRA 71 29.50 11 Laura Leticia-Serrano Ochoa MEX 31 33.50 12 Villareal-Trevino MEX 17 33.50 13 Lussier-Malowney CAN 72 42.00 14 Elenice-Leninha BRA 12 42.00 15 Michele-Monica Rocha BRA 12 42.00 16 Alexandra-Sandra Mathias BRA   42.00 17 Faiza-Samira BRA   42.00 18 Inward-Parsons CAN   42.00

Notes:
- points are as per standings in the World Ranking on entry date
- exact seed of each team will be communicated on 23 February(Technical Meeting)

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