Polish and German qualifiers, Lithuanian and Portuguese lucky losers into Porto main draw

Porto, Portugal, July 30, 2014.  Four European teams made it successfully from the qualifications through to the main draw at the men’s FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championships in Porto on Tuesday.  Teams from Poland and Germany, along with duos from Australia and Brazil, were among the four teams that won all their matches.  Pairs from Lithuania and Portugal also made the main draw as lucky losers.

Germany’s Julius Thole / Felix Goebert booked two straight-set wins to advance to the main draw. The two 17-year-old Germans defeated Ukraine’s Denys Denysenko / Andriy Kravets by 2:0 (24-22, 21-17) and Norway’s Aleksander Sandlie Sorum / Martin Klovfjell Olimstad by 2:0 (21-14, 21-13).

Goebert has some international experience - he finished fourth at the U18 last year with one of Germany’s main draw players Eric Stadie, but for Thole Porto is his first event.  In their final match against Norway, the Germans were leading from start till end in both sets.  “This one was a little easier,” said Thole. “But the first one against Ukraine, especially the first set was a bit difficult.  We do not want to look too far ahead; we just want to play one game at a time.  Then we will see how long we get to play.”

Also qualifying for the main draw were Poland’s Mateusz Lysikowski / Jakub Jetke with two wins - over Austria’s Lucas Skrabal / Felix Friedl by 2:0 (21-15, 21-19) and over Dutch pair Jasper Bouter / Tom van Steenis by 2:0 (24-22, 21-12).

Brazil’s Gabriel Mussi Fichter / Jonas Paixao Fidelis who shut out Portugal’s Bernardo Silva / Bernardo Leite by 2:0 (21-13, 21-18) in their last qualification match, and Australia’s Maximilian Guehrer / Jonathan Hunt, who made the main draw upon completing a 2:0 (21-17, 21-13) victory over Lithuania’s Marius Barauskis / Edgaras Bartkus, were the other two pairs that went through Tuesday’s qualifications unbeaten.  Their last opponents, Bernardo / Leite and Barauskis / Bartkus, respectively, however, will also play in the main draw battles as lucky losers.

The 36-team main draw starts on Wednesday with six pools of six teams each.  The top four pairs from each pool will qualify for the single elimination rounds.

Click here for more info on the FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championship.