Germany and Norway advance to the Finals

German women and Norwegian men booked their tickets to the 2025 CEV Beach Volley Nations Cup Finals on Saturday, when they triumphed in Pool G of the Preliminary Phase in Balıkesir, Türkiye.

With their victories at Ören Beach, Germans and Norwegians increased the number of countries qualified for the Finals, which will be held in Espinho from July 17-20, to four in each gender – hosts Portugal, Spain and Estonia are the other nations guaranteed on the women’s side, while Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands have booked their places among the men.

Represented by Sophia Neuss/Clara Dressen and Mareet Maidhof/Paula Schürholz in Balıkesir, Germany had a fierce battle with Czechia, but came out on top at the end due to the tie-breakers.

CEV Beach Nations Cup – Women’s Pool G

The Germans started their campaign in Türkiye on Friday against Slovakia and had Neuss and Dressen beating Kristina Harmanova/Lesia Slezakova 2-1 (21-17, 15-21, 15-12) and Maidhof and Schürholz downing Barbora Tokosova/Martina Terenova 2-0 (21-11, 21-9). On the same day, they won another series, overcoming Bulgaria with Neuss/Dressen defeating Eva Petrova/Antoniya Nikolova in straight sets (21-13, 21-11) and Maidhof/Schürholz sweeping (21-11, 21-15) Vili Tsenova/Raya Tsenova.

They met the Czechs, who were also undefeated, in the last and decisive series on Saturday and started behind, with Andrea Lorenzova and Mariana Tomasova topping Neuss and Dressen 2-1 (17-21, 21-15, 15-13). However, in the second match, Maidhof and Schürholz came up big for the Germans, beating Julie Honzovicova/Anna Pavelková 2-0 (21-16, 21-15) and giving them the edge to win the Pool.

Norway get dramatic victory to win Pool G

The decision in the men’s Pool G was also very tight, as Norway and Czechia ended the event with not only the same points, but also the same set ratio after they each won five of their six matches in Balıkesir – the Scandinavians finished first because of their higher point ratio.

The Norwegians started their campaign in Türkiye on Friday, when they got a pair of wins over Serbia, with Sebastian Kjemperud and Jonah Utvik sweeping (21-14, 21-16) Uros Muskinja/Danilo Nikolic and Nils Ringøen and Even Aas needing the tie-breaker (15-21, 21-14, 15-11) to top Djordje Klasnic/Marko Makaric.

CEV Beach Nations Cup – Men’s Pool G

On Saturday, the Beach Volley Vikings started the day with comfortable wins over Romania as Kjemperud and Utvik dominated Adrian Onofrei/Victor Bula to a two-set (21-9, 21-14) victory while Ringøen and Aas swept (21-8, 21-9) Andrei Grigore/Eduard.

In the decisive series against the Czechs, who also entered the duel undefeated, the Norwegians got a win and a loss, with Kjemperud and Utvik falling to Tomas Semerad/Adam Stocek in straight sets (21-14, 21-16) before Ringøen and Aas handled Adam Waber/Matyas Jezek in two sets (21-18, 21-18) to confirm the Norwegian triumph.

Another two spots in the Finals will be awarded in Balıkesir this weekend as the matches of Pool A will be concluded on Sunday – France, Croatia, Estonia and Türkiye compete on the men’s side, with the Netherlands, Denmark, Romania and Türkiye contending among the women.