FIVB Women's Beach - Salvador, Brazil
29 October-01 November 1998

Salvador, Brazil Open, 29 Oct.- 01 November 1998

EVENT SCHEDULE

Qualifications: 27-28 Oct
     Main Draw: 29 Oct.- 01 Nov.

FINAL RANKING

Rk. Players Country Points Prize (US$) Bonus (US$) 1 Adriana Behar-Shelda BRA 340 16,000.00 16,000.00 2 Hanley-Fontana USA 306 10,400.00 12,600.00 3 Sandra Pires-Adriana Samuel BRA 272 6,400.00 8,600.00 4 Manser-Pottharst AUS 238 4,800.00 7,200.00 5 Cook-Clarke AUS 204 3,600.00 5,400.00 Masakayan-Youngs USA 204 3,600.00 5,400.00 7 Schoon Kadijk D.-Kadijk R. NED 170 2,400.00 3,600.00 McPeak-Arce USA 170 2,400.00 3,600.00 9 Huygens Tholen-Straton AUS 136 2,000.00 2,500.00 Bruschini-Solazzi ITA 136 2,000.00 2,500.00 Takahashi-Teru Saiki JPN 136 2,000.00 2,500.00 Jenny Jordan-Annett Davis USA 136 2,000.00 2,500.00 13 Jackie Silva-Adriana Bento BRA 102 1,600.00 1,600.00 Zhang Jingkun-Liu Chun Ying CHN 102 1,600.00 1,600.00 Friedrichsen-Müsch GER 102 1,600.00 1,600.00 Schmidt-Staub GER 102 1,600.00 1,600.00 17 Gooley-Sanderson AUS 68 1,200.00 800.00 Claudia-Leninha BRA 68 1,200.00 800.00 Magda-Gerusa BRA 68 1,200.00 800.00 Monica-Monica Paludo BRA 68 1,200.00 800.00 Dumont-Tough CAN 68 1,200.00 800.00 Xiong-Chi CHN 68 1,200.00 800.00 Gattelli-Perrotta ITA 68 1,200.00 800.00 Maria José-Cristina Pereira POR 68 1,200.00 800.00 25 Drakich-Russo CAN 34 800.00 600.00 Joergensen-Sommer DEN 34 800.00 600.00 Karadassiou-Sfyri GRE 34 800.00 600.00 Gavio-Nascimento ITA 34 800.00 600.00 Ishizaka-Rii Seike JPN 34 800.00 600.00 Tokuno-Kusuhara JPN 34 800.00 600.00 W.Stammer-Reece USA 34 800.00 600.00 Wood-Blomquist USA 34 800.00 600.00

RESULTS

QUALIFICATIONS RESULTS

MAIN DRAW RESULTS

PRESS RELEASES

Sunday, 1 November

ADRIANA BEHAR AND SHELDA DEFEAT
AMERICANS AND WIN THE 6^TH FIVB BEACH
VOLLEYBALL WORLD TOUR, IN BAHIA, BRAZIL

Salvador- The Brazilian fans were enthusiastic as always to see the final match of the 8^th and final stage of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, in Salvador. They had a lot of reasons to be happy specially after Adriana Behar and Shelda won their 6^th FIVB World Tour defeating the North-Americans Fontana and Hanley in two sets. The first set was 12-7 and the second one 12-9 the match was 88 minutes of pure excitement. Third place was the Brazilian team of, Adriana and Sandra, who defeated the Australians Manser and Pottharst 15-4, in 38 minutes.

This year, Adriana Behar and Shelda were champions of four stages in the FIVB World Tour in Rio de Janeiro, Italy, Japan and China. They also won the Goodwill Games. It was obvious that they would get to the podium, repeating the same place of last year, when they were also the winners.

In the first match, both teams kept playing hard until the score was 3-2. From then on, the Brazilian team dominated the match showing good digging and service, and it was because of both techniques that they scored three points. Hanley and Fontana tried to react but failed, letting the Brazilian team win by 12-7, in 32 minutes.

"They slow down a little bit in the second set but they are very good players and were able to change the match. They did a good job, we only wish they had continued to slow down in that match", said Fontana.

"The match will only be decided on the court and beach volleyball is always a surprise", said Shelda

But it was just in the second match that the American team were close to the victory. Hanley and Fontana, champions of the stage held in Portugal, scored 7-2 in the beginning of first match. But Adriana Behar made a good block and started to react. The Brazilian team tied the match at 9-9 and won 12-9 in 53 minutes.

 

Brazil defeats Australia for 3^rd Place

The Brazilians woke up early and enjoyed the match which decided the third place between Brazilians and Australians. The Brazilian fans packed the arena, that has capacity for five thousand people, and vibrate with the match, which started at 8h20.

The beginning of the match was a really hard dispute between the two teams, that’s why the first point only came after seven minutes. Brazil is the one who made that point taking advantage of an attack mistake from the adversaries. From then on, Adriana and Sandra dominated completely the match using the large number of Manser and Pottharst’s mistakes and wining the match 15-4.

"The match was terrible. We tried but couldn’t make it. The Brazilian team played really well", said Manser.

From the four points scored by the Australian team, three were from the Brazilian attack and one point from their service mistake. It was because the service that Adriana scored the last two points and guaranteed one more place on the podium.

"The teams are getting better and better and getting really hard to defeat. In the past, Brazil was always in one of the five places but now it’s much harder. That’s why I think it’s important to have two Brazilian teams on the podium", said Adriana.

Saturday, 31 October

Salvador- Tomorrow Brazil and United States will play the final of the 8^th and final stage of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, in Bahia Marina, Salvador, Brazil. Adriana Behar/Shelda (BRA) the leaders in the FIVB World ranking and champions of the 1998 World Tour season. They will face Hanley/Fontana (USA), third place in the ranking. The match begins at 9h30 and will be broadcast live from TV Globo. In the match for third place, at 8h20, Adriana/Sandra (BRA) will be playing against Manser/Pottharst (AUS).

To get to one more final in this World Tour Season, Adriana Behar/Shelda (BRA) defeated Adriana/Sandra (BRA) 15-8. The match had thrilling moments, which made the Brazilian fans vibrate, specially in an exciting rally.

"We were very tired and Adriana is still recovering from an injury. But she surprised herself in the match. I believe that the final will be very hard for us because Hanley and Fontana have the same kind of game that we have, with a lot of digging and attacking", said Shelda.

Despite the defeat, Adriana Samuel found good reasons for satisfaction. "It was a great match specially because both teams are the first in the FIVB World ranking. They had a strong service and deserved to win", said Adriana.

Hanley/Fontana (USA) advanced to the final by defeating Manser/Pottharst (AUS) 15-11. "This will certainly be an excited final. The two teams will play hard to make every point. We know that Brazil is a strong adversary. Now all we have to do is get some rest to face them tomorrow", said Fontana. She also thinks that Brazilian fans are the best, and doesn’t bother with all the noise.

Friday, 30 October

Brazil is in the finals in Salvador

Salvador- Today, Adriana Behar and Shelda got their first place to the Semifinals of the 8^th and final stage of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, in Salvador. Adriana and Shelda defeated Manser and Pottharst (AUS) 15-11, who occupy the 5^th place in the FIVB World ranking. The match lasted 52 minutes and qualified the team to the Semifinals, which takes place tomorrow, at 8h30, in the arena of Bahia Marina. But Brazil is already in the final because Adriana and Shelda will face, in the semifinal, the Brazilians Adriana Samuel and Sandra Pires, who defeated Masakayan and Youngs (USA) 17-16.

Although they were favorites, Adriana Behar and Shelda were losing against the Australians but little by little they reacted and won their 4^th victory in a row. After the victory, Adriana said that she started the match really worried because the match was against the same adversaries that she played in the Banco do Brasil Circuit, last week. On that day, Adriana suffered an injury that almost took her from the tournament.

"That was the most difficult match for us till this moment because I was playing with the same adversaries from the day I hurt my spine. But that was not the only problem. Pottharst is too tall and the team is doing pretty well. For us, it looks like it’s the first time we are facing the semifinals, when it’s not" said Adriana. Twice champions of the World Tour and undefeated until now, Adriana Behar and Shelda are trying to get through the 7^th final of the tournament this year – they were champions in Brazil(Rio de Janeiro), Italy (Vasto), Japan(Osaka) and China (Dailan) and also vice-champions in Canada(Toronto) and France(Marseille).

But even though the two Brazilian teams were already qualified for the Semifinals, the fans got a little disappointed. Today, Jacqueline and Adriana Bento were eliminated by the North-Americans Annett Davis and Jenny Jordan in a really hard match.

"For us, that was the best result ever" said Jenny Jordan. And even with the noise of the fans, the Brazilians lost 16-14, in 55 minutes.

"We had the chance to win in our hands, but we lost" said Jacqueline. The Brazilian team was wining by 14-13.

The second team to qualify for the semifinal of the tournament was Hanley/Fontana, from the United States, who defeated the Americans Masakayan and Youngs 15-12, in 29 minutes.

There is US$170,000 in prize money and the winning team will receive US$ 32,000. On Sunday, at 8h20, begins the match for the third place and at 9h30 starts the final.

Thursday, 29 October

Salvador- The feeling of victory, for the first time this year, was a relief. Adriana Behar, who is still recovering from a injury on her spine, and Shelda won their two matches today, in the opening of the 8^th and final stage of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Season, which takes place in Salvador, Brazil. Besides being twice champions of the World Tour season, Adriana Behar and Shelda are also undefeated in the competition. They defeated Stammer / Reece (USA) 15-6. Tomorrow, in the first match they’ll face Bruschini/Solazzi (ITA), who defeated Jacqueline/ Adriana 15-10.

"We are still feeling insecure and for that reason we are a little more tense. I got worried every moment of the match, wondering if Adriana was ok. We are facing every match like a final", said Shelda.

"Sure we wanna make it through the finals, specially because this tournament, here in Brazil, it’s the most important for us. At the same time, we also suffer a bigger pressure but we trust in our work", added Adriana, who after two matches, spent the whole afternoon taking medical treatment.

Today one of the surprises in the competition was the defeat of the North-Americans Holly McPeak and Lisa Arce. They lost the game to Takahashi and Saiki (JPN) 16-14. The japanese team wasn’t surprised by the victory. When they come to Brazil, they receive all the know-how from the Brazilian technician Antonio Leão, who is also the technician of Guilherme/Pará and Anjinho/Fred, between others.

"That was the first time we faced McPeak and Arce. We played pretty well, didn’t feel the blazing sun and we hope to get the best result ever", said Takahashi, the most expert of the team. Nowadays, in Japan, there are three female professional teams and a large number of amateur.

"A serious work in the Beach Volleyball is being started in our country", she added.

The Italians Bruschini and Solazzi , who didn’t disguise the satisfaction of beating Jacqueline and Adriana Bento, were also a little sad. The reason was that they have to face tomorrow, in the first match, Adriana Behar and Shelda.

"We didn’t have any luck. I wish I could face players from the United Sates, who have not the same power of the Brazilian team", said Bruschini, who didn’t bother with all the shouting form the Brazilian fans.

"All this noise stimulates the match. And it’s really good to know that Jacqueline and Adriana are that loved here", explain the Italian player.

 

Wednesday, 28 October

The Main Draw of the 1998 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour – Women’s Brazil Open will begin tomorrow. It is the last tournament of this year’s calendar and it is being held at Bahia Marina – Salvador. Adriana Behar and Shelda are already the champions of this year’s 1998 World Tour Season and will only show the favouritism that they achieved by winning four tournaments this year. Behar and Shelda were champions at Rio de Janeiro, Italy, Japan and China and silver medalists at Canada and France championships.

Last year, at the Salvador tournament, Adriana Behar and Shelda had assured their gold medals before the beggining of the tournament. To make it a bigger comemoration they defetead Holly McPeak and Linda Arce in the final match.

Adriana Samuel and Sandra Pires are the most important opponents for this Brazilian team. They are also Brazilians and are the second on the world ranking. They were the gold medalists in Canada and France tournaments. Americans McPeak and Arce, third on the world ranking, Hanley and Fontana and the Australians Manser and Pottharst, which surprised with a second place at the Rio de Janeiro tournament, are also important opponents for the Brazilians.

Thirty two doubles, from 12 countries – Brazil, United States, Australia, Italy, Canada, Germany, Japan, Netherland, Czech Republic, Potugal, Denmark, China and Greece – will be in the competition struggling for prize money of US$ 170,000. The first place double will receive US$ 32,000.

Tuesday, 27 October

Twenty four doubles teams, from 14 countries, began today the struggle for the eight places in the Main Draw of the eight tournaments of the 1998 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour – Women’s Brazil Open. The competition is being held at the Bahia Marina, Salvador, where 36 matches were played under strong heat.

There are three places to be filled by the seven Brazilian doubles which are playing the Qualifying – Monica Rodrigues / Monica Paludo, Rejane / Ivanise, Ana Richa / Sandra Mathias, Samira / Fazia, Magda / Gerusa, Vanessa / Tatiana and Claudia / Leninha.

For Monica Rodrigues, silver medalist at 1996 Olympic Games, the Qualifiyng Tournament is a new experience. After a four year partnership with her former partner Adriana Samuel, with whom she won the silver medal in Atlanta, Monica has only played for two months with Monica Paluco. For the first time in her career she is participating of a Qualifying Tournament. "I believe it is worthwhile to participate of the Qualifying Tournament. I know I’m going to play against doubles I’ve never seen before but it is an important experience, mainly for my new partner, which has never participated of a World Tour Tournament", said Monica Rodrigues.

The Brazilian audience is very happy. Adriana Behar and Shelda, twice world champions of the World Tour are guaranteed in the Main Draw at the Salvador event. Adriana has already recovered from a spine injury suffered last Saturday and is trainning normaly. "It wasn’t necessary to make any medical exams. I’m much better now." explained Adriana. Adriana and Shelda won tournaments held in Rio de Janeiro, Italy, Japan and China. They were also the winners at the Goodwill Games, in New York.

Tomorrow, play-offs for the final eight teams to move on to the Main Draw will begin at 10:00 am.

Salvador, Brazil Open, 29 Oct.- 01 November 1998

The Participating Teams

Main Draw (29 Oct.-01 Nov. )

Qualification Tournament ( 27-28 Oct.)