FIVB Men's Beach - Tenerife, Spain
03-06 September 1998

EVENT SCHEDULE

 Sep. 01  Qualification Tournament
 Sep. 02  Qualification Tournament
 Sep. 03  Main Draw (double elimination, 32 teams)
 Sep. 04  Main Draw
 Sep. 05  Main Draw
 Sep. 06  Main Draw

PRESS RELEASES

Sunday 06 Sept

EMANUEL - LOIOLA (BRA) CHAMPIONS OF THE SPAIN OPEN

DEFEATING KIRALY – WHITMARSH (USA)

In Las Teresitas the spectators were part of the largest party of beach volleyball

The Brazilians Emanuel-Loiola were proclaimed the champions of the Beach Volleyball World Tour Spain Open ‘98 defeating in the Final the Americans Kiraly-Whithmarsh by 12-4, 12-10. The first set, corroborated by the final result, was a game in which power was the key, rattling the Atlanta Olympic medallists. In the second, the men from the AVP reacted, but Emanuel-Loiola continued in their high level and with spectacular defence, saved points that were seeming lost. It was a great second set, together with the high level showed during the whole competition, without doubts the most important disputed this year, and perhaps also many years back, in any part of the world.

In the match for the bronze medal, the Argentinean Martínez - Conde lost the semifinal 14-16, against the American team Ian Clark-Boullianne that made a great performance throughout all the Spain Open. The public was of the Argentine side, but the bronze medals remained in good hands.

At 11 am , while the stadium was ready for the great party and the great final and with the presence in the official VIP Zone of FIVB President, Dr. Rubén Acosta, begin the semi-finals. The first one confronted the American team Kiraly-Whithmarsh, gold and silver medals respectively in the Olympics of Atlanta, with their compatriots Ian Clark-Boullianne. It was a strategist’s match, of a very high technical level. Thanks to a great defence and potent actions, Clark-Boullianne turned the match on their side by 6-2. Then the medallists team changed its tactics and started to attack with finesse instead of power. The score was tied the same as the game, but the result was still undecided even at Kiraly-Whithmarsh winning 13-12. Two perfect blocks by Whitmarsh decided the party: 15-13 and, on their way to the finals.

The Argentineans Martínez - Conde always begins very well in Tenerife, but when the decisive hour arrives, the weight the responsibility put on them by almost all the public appears. Last year they lost in an incomprehensible end before Kvalkeim-Maaseide. This year they failed in the semi-final with Emanuel-Loiola. The Brazilians, without to much effort, defeated them 15-3.

Before the big final there was a big party as always in Tenerife. The amazing spectacle of music and professional dancers leaded two party hours with a great novelty: the presence of the Carnival "comparsa" (dancers group), the Jaroperos, that wanted to be present in the great party of Beach Volleyball.

Saturday 05 Sept

Two North American teams, one Argentine and

one Brazilian passed to semi-finals

The final day of the SPAIN OPEN starts at 11.00 in Las Teresitas

The Americans Ian Clark - Boullianne and the Argentines Martínez - Conde were the first two teams proclaimed semi-finalists of the Beach Volleyball World Tour Spain Open. They reached it through the winners bracket, this is, without losing any match of the four that they played. Through the losers bracket, Americans Kiraly - Whitmarsh and Brazilians Emanuel – Loiola are the other semi-finalists each to matched against one of the teams from the winners bracket.

In decisive matches, Clark - Boullianne defeated Brazilians Ze Marco - Ricardo 15-5 in 35 minutes and Martínez - Conde defeated the Swiss Laciga brothers 15-13 in 43 minutes, but not easily. The Europeans mastered the match from the beginning scoring 12-7, when the referee sanctioned a net touch. There was a protest by the Swiss team. The Laciga seemed nervous and they lost their precision. Martínez - Conde, very quiet and with a great game, forced errors to end with a victory. Settled down from their last match, the Laciga brothers played the Americans Kiraly – Whitmarsh but were not successful, losing 15-17.

Today was a day of outstanding matches contested by outstanding teams. It was an excellent specticle enjoyed by the crowd among whom was the FIVB president Dr. Rubén Acosta. But certainly, more than 4.000 spectators that came to the stadium at Las Teresitas, witnessed high level beach volleyball and matches that can be considered as historical in the World Tour. Thus, there was a match with four Olympic medals: Kiraly - Whitmarsh (gold - silver) defeating the Canadians Child-Heese (bronze) 5-8. In another match, the American Fonoimoana against Brazilian Loiola, both "King of the Beach", title that is given annually to the best player of the AVP. Loiola demonstrated to be more worthy of the crown, since, partner Emanuel, defeating Blanton-Fonoimoana 15-5 in 30 minutes. In either case the defeated teams were eliminated, sharing the ninth position with the Norwegians Kvalheim - Maaseide, who were defeated by the Americans Henkel - Wong 10-15. The Australian Zahner - Prosser lost 8-15 to

the Spanish Bosma – Diez and that was really a great match with Bosma winning six points by blocking (!) - and Fabio Diez, totally recovered, helping him with

great precision and touch. The Spanish, fought enthusiastically until the end, but lost to Brazilians Emanuel - Loiola 9-15, finishing in an excellent seventh position, that it is so good, considering that never before in the history of the sport was there an event of the quality of this SPAIN OPEN. All the stars were here and some of them will continue Sunday at 11,00 in semi-finals, with the presence of the International Volleyball Federation President Dr. Rubén Acosta, who arrived yesterday to Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Thursday 03 Sept

The Australian Zanher-Prosser (AUS), in great match
defeated Kiraly-Whitmarsh (USA) in Las Teresitas Beach

The two Spanish couples, continue forward

At the end of 53 intensive minutes the surprise came in the first day of the main draw of the 1998 BEACH VOLLEYBALL WORLD TOUR SPAIN OPEN. The American Karch Kiraly, who won the Olympic gold medal for beach volleyball during the Atlanta Olympic Games and has two indoor Olympic gold medals, teaming with silver medallist in Atlanta Olympic Games, Mike Whitmarsh lost by 14-16 against the Australian Zahner-Prosser. Total two Olympic medals in beach volleyball on the sand in extraordinary fight. It was a strategic struggle with two different styles. More conservative the Australians. Riskier and potent the men of USA. Finally the match went to the Australians in a match spectators liked and that it is the announcement of what will be seen in the next days: top level beach volleyball and two different schools. The first proceed of the volleyball. The second was born in the beach and evolves with great speed.

Another great match of the Australian Zahner-Prosser, defeated an American team again: Blanton-Fonoimoana, top players from the AVP. The Australians win by 17-15. The posibility that these USA teams can be out of the competition, Kiraly-Whitmarsh or Blanton-Fonoimoana, can guarantee nice matches in the Losers rounds: "can not be permitted the luxury of a second rout", since it would mean the return passage.

The mythical American "Sinn" Smith", now playing with Lutes, it is called to dispute the most extended match of each session; like what occurs every year in Las Teresitas, to demonstrate than it is actually fireproof. Today it was 68 minutes on the sand for finally, but not without giving one of their classic lessons, to be defeated by 15-17 with the American Heckle-Wong.

The first Spanish team, integrated by Bosma-Díez, was irregular in the competition, fruit of a dangerous loss of concentration, seems be their greater enemy. In the first match, playing well, they beat to the Italians Lione-Giurghi by 15-8 in 45 minutes. In the second they lost 3-15 with the Canadians Child-Heese (Bronze medallists in Atlanta). Gave the impression of the fact that they were not in the match, that is very dangerous. Tomorrow they will have the opportunity of demonstrating their quality in their own country.

FINAL RANKING

Tenerife, Spain Open, 03-06 September 1998

Rk. Players Country Points Prize (US$) Bonus (US$) 1 Emanuel-Loiola BRA 340 20,000.00 12,000.00 2 Kiraly-Whitmarsh USA 306 13,000.00 10,000.00 3 Ian Clark-Boullianne USA 272 8,000.00 7,000.00 4 Martinez-Conde ARG 238 6,000.00 6,000.00 5 Zé Marco-Ricardo BRA 204 4,500.00 4,500.00 M.Laciga-P.Laciga SUI 204 4,500.00 4,500.00 7 Bosma-Diez ESP 170 3,000.00 3,000.00 Henkel-Wong USA 170 3,000.00 3,000.00 9 Zahner-Prosser AUS 136 2,500.00 2,000.00 Child-Heese CAN 136 2,500.00 2,000.00 Kvalheim-Maaseide NOR 136 2,500.00 2,000.00 Blanton-Fonoimoana USA 136 2,500.00 2,000.00 13 Holden-Chaloupka CAN 102 2,000.00 1,200.00 Lione-Ghiurghi ITA 102 2,000.00 1,200.00 Kjemperud-Hoidalen NOR 102 2,000.00 1,200.00 Sinjin Smith-Luyties USA 102 2,000.00 1,200.00 17 Salema-Baracetti ARG 68 1,500.00 500.00 Jan-Paulão BRA 68 1,500.00 500.00 Pará-Guilherme BRA 68 1,500.00 500.00 Kubala-Palinek CZE 68 1,500.00 500.00 Yoyi Rodriguez-Luna ESP 68 1,500.00 500.00 Ahmann-Hager GER 68 1,500.00 500.00 Dieckmann Ch.-Dieckmann M. GER 68 1,500.00 500.00 Seuseu-Eade NZL 68 1,500.00 500.00 25 Milian Carvajal-Sanchez CUB 34 1,000.00 400.00 Jodard-Znatchkowsky FRA 34 1,000.00 400.00 Anton-Pomerenke GER 34 1,000.00 400.00 Raffaelli-Pimponi ITA 34 1,000.00 400.00 Noguchi-Morikawa JPN 34 1,000.00 400.00 Maia-Brenha POR 34 1,000.00 400.00 Velasco-De Jesus PUR 34 1,000.00 400.00 Kouchnerev-Karasev RUS 34 1,000.00 400.00

RESULTS

Tenerife, Spain Open, 03-06 September 1998

PARTICIPATING TEAMS

Tenerife, Spain Open, 03-06 September1998

The Participating Teams

Main Draw (03-06 Sept.)

Qualification Tournament ( 01-02 Sept.)