Young aces from NEVZA to contest zonal event in Oddanesand

A few years ago, NEVZA events were important ‘springboard tournaments’ for players such as Jonathan Hellvig, David Åhman, Anders Mol, and Christian Sørum, who are currently the world’s top four ranked players. Anders Mol and Christian Sørum have plenty of nice memories from Oddanesand events, and later this week this beautiful beach is once again welcoming huge talents from all over Scandinavia and England in a battle for ranking points to take them higher on the world ranking.

Swedish Jacob Hölting Nilsson, a reigning U22 European champion and son of indoor legend Lasse Nilsson, is among those up-and-coming talents. Nilsson is part of the group training under Rasmus Jonsson and volleyball hall of famer Anders Kristiansson known as the ‘Swedish Jumpsetters’. No matter how big of a talent Nilsson is together with partner Hampus Ekstrand, they are going to have a hard time against players such as Markus Mol (younger brother of Anders) and Jo Sunde, as well as the youngest of the English Bello brothers, Juan Enrique, or Norwegian young guns Even Stray Aas and Adrian Mol (Mol brother #4). On the men’s side, it will be a battle where a variety of teams from Finland, Norway, Sweden, and England will feature.

On the women’s side, experienced Norwegian Victoria Faye Kjølberg together with Julie Varga are amongst the favourites challenged by Swedish opposition, especially the Thurin sisters, Tina and Sanna, and a lot of other strong teams. Finland is sending 10 teams that will be very exciting to follow, and there is a Dutch wildcard competing as well consisting of Danieke Prins and Susan Reinders. Denmark will only be represented by Marie Egebjerg Jensen and Vanessa Richards on Oddanesand as the event clashes with the Danish Championships.

There is going to be some great Beach Volleyball on Oddanesand this year and the organisers are really looking forward to seeing who comes out on the top of the podium!