Teams from Norway and Sweden triumph in Göteborg

In a stunning display of talent and determination, Swedish and Norwegian teams dominated the 2024 NEVZA Beach Sweden tournament, clinching all the medals at stake in an electrifying weekend of Beach Volleyball action in Göteborg.

This past weekend, Gothenburg's Beach Center - home to the world’s largest indoor Beach Volleyball arena - hosted the much-anticipated NEVZA Beach Sweden zonal event, where 32 elite teams from northern Europe competed for glory, ranking points, and prize money. The tournament, held from November 1-3, coincided with the Halloween Cup, thereby attracting nearly 400 players in a variety of recreational competitions across the centre’s 16 indoor courts.

The atmosphere was charged with anticipation since as many as 13 Swedish teams entered the fray - seven in the women’s category and six in the men’s competition. With a strong contingent from the Gothenburg Beachvolley Club (GBC), which featured 14 players ready to challenge for the top spots, hopes for local success were high.

The results exceeded all expectations. In the men’s final, the Swedish ‘Jumpsetting Young Guns’ Jacob Hölting Nilsson and Elmer Andersson showcased their remarkable skills, defeating home team player Stefan Andreasson and his partner Anton Andersson in an all-Swedish final showdown. The match concluded with a score of 21-14, 21-17, marking yet another triumph in a breakout year for the talented teenage pair. Supported by the Swedish Olympic Committee, Jacob and Elmer earlier this season claimed gold at the U22 European Championships and silver in the U20 division, along with a pair of podium finishes on the Beach Pro Tour. Entering the tournament in Göteborg as the top seeds, they emerged victorious without dropping a single set.

“We started a bit shaky against England, struggling with our reception, but as the tournament progressed, we found our rhythm and played better,” Jacob and Elmer reflected. “We knew the final would be tough against Anton and Stefan, who have been very strong lately. They played well, but we minimised our mistakes and found our blocking and defence game. Ultimately, it was a great tournament, and we are taking this experience with us as we head to India and the Philippines for World Tour events in a few weeks.”

On the women’s side, Fanny Åhman and Helene Jernbeck captured a commendable silver. However, their quest for gold was thwarted by an unfortunate spraining injury sustained by Åhman during a critical moment in the first set. Despite her brave return to the court after a brief pause, she was unable to continue, leading to a win for opponents Victoria Faye Kjølberg and Kirstine Larsdatter Garder from Norway.

The Norwegian duo navigated a challenging path through the tournament, beginning with a narrow 2-1 victory over Swedish champions Sanna and Tina Thurin and a subsequent loss to their compatriots Sunniva Helland-Hansen and Solveig Gladsøy Sunde. From the Round of 12 and onward, Kjølberg and Garder surged forward, avenging their earlier loss with a thrilling semifinal victory over Helland-Hansen and Sunde.

The NEVZA Beach Sweden tournament not only highlighted the remarkable talent of the competing teams but also reinforced the growing prominence of Beach Volleyball in the region. As the season draws to a close, the successes in Göteborg will undoubtedly inspire future endeavours on the sand.

All pictures courtesy of Johan Almblad