Features

Three European teams in the Men's Beach Volleyball semis

Recap

Article Wed, Aug 4 2021

History is repeating itself!

As in London 2012 and Rio 2016, as many as three European teams will fight in the semis of the Men's Beach Volleyball tournament at Tokyo 2020. In the quarterfinals battles on Wednesday, Mol/Sorum (NOR) disappointed Leshukov/Semenov (ROC), while Plavins/Tocs (LAT) dethroned another Olympic champion - Alison Cerruti, and his partner Alvaro Filho. On their way to the semifinals, the reigning world champions Krasilnikov/Stoyanovskiy (ROC) locked horns with the vice world champions Thole/Wickler (GER), to eventually emerge victorious. In the last matchup of the day, the silver medallists from Rio 2016, Poalo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo (ITA) lost the the No.1 team in the world (FIVB ranking) - Cherif/Ahmed.

The semifinals battles will take place on August 5. 

Plavins/Tocs will meet on the court Mol/Sorum, while Krasilnikov/Stoyanovskiy will have to overcome Cherif/Ahmed if they want to reach the match for the gold.

Mol and Sorum celebrating their country's first Olympic semifinal on the beach (source: Volleyball World)

The Beachvolley Vikings, Anders Mol and Christian Sorum took the sweetest revenge from the ROC’s Ilya Leshukov/Konstantin Semenov, grabbing a 2-0 (21-17, 21-19) in the first quarterfinal of the day. Mol and Sorum had previosly lost to the same opponents in the pool phase, but on Wednesday dominated on the court. The Norwegians controlled the game in the first set, while it was a close call in the second one. However, Sorum showed precision and resilience in the final moments, and with the result being 19-19, was able to finish the next two attacks. Overall, it was the more successful play on attack that helped Mol and Sorum to finish as winners (32 winning spikes compared to 24 by the Russians). Konstantin Semenov aced two times, while both Leshukov and Mol finished recording 18 points each.

 

“We’re feeling amazing, we are really, really happy. I believe we had improved in regards to our first encounter with the Russians in the pool phase. We didn’t make that many mistakes. We played a really good game today. Fighting for the medals now in the Olympics is a dream come true, and we hope to bring some medals back home to Norway.”

Anders Mol (NOR)

“In general, we did well, but we let some mistakes affect the final score. The Norwegians were very calm, and we couldn’t change that. They kept their high level of the game. They’re a very strong team. We give them an A grade for the game today. We did not expect to play them today. We were hoping to meet them in the final. They were very motivated to beat us after the loss in the pool stage”.

Konstantin Semenov (ROC)
Latvias Plavins/Tocs showing respect to the opponent after the final referee whistle

Martins Plavins and Edgars Tocs brought happiness to all the Latvian fans as earlier on Wednesday they dethroned the reigning Olympic champion from Brazil Alison Cerruti and his partner Alvaro Filho, winning the quarterfinal match at 2-0 (21-16, 21-19). Earlier in the competition, the Latvian duo had also met and defeated on the courts the other defending champion, Bruno Schmidt who at Tokyo 2020 was playing with partner Evandro Goncalves. On Wednesday, Plavins and Tocs found the right way to outclass the Brazilians, and with the first set unfolding, started building a point difference. Alison Cerruti and Alvaro Filho fought hard in the next set, saving as many as two match points, but a net touch by the Brazilians in the third one was crucial for the final result. While the Brazilians outclassed the Latvians on attack (27 to 23) and on the block (five to four), Plavins/Tocs seized all their opportunities on their opponents' errors (13 to three).

“We are a little bit exhausted. It is really hot, the level of the humidity is very high. It was tough for both sides, but I’m glad we made it in two sets. We had our strategy, and we held our side out and defence, I’m glad we made it.”

Edgars Tocs (LAT)

“We are happy to have such outstanding athletes for our opponents, Alison Cerruti is a true Beach Volleyball icon. I hope that they will invite us to play again sometimes. How are we going to beat the Norwegians? You know the Vikings with the swords? They will give us both a sword, and then we will beat them.”

Martins Plavins (LAT)
Oleg Styoanovskiy (ROC) celebrating

In a rematch of the Worlds final, the Germans Julius Thole and Clemens Wickler couldn’t get back at ROC’s Viacheslav Krasilnikov/Oleg Stoyanovskiy losing at 0-2 (16-21, 19-21). In the third quarterfinal match of the day, both sides followed each other in the score, but Krasilnikov and Stoyanovskiy proved better in the important moments, scoring decisive breakpoints (also on their opponents’ errors). Statistically, ROC’s representatives were slightly better on all counts; on attack (24 to 22); on block (four to two) and on the serving line (three to none). Krasilnikov topped the charts with 14 points to his name.

"It was a tough match. We know really well this team, we always play hard with them. Тhey tried to put some pressure on us, but we handled it good, without many mistakes. I feel that we are improving game by game, so hopefully we are yet to reach our best level.”

Oleg Stoyanovskiy (ROC)

“Today, they put a lot of service pressure on us. I think this was the key to success for them over the whole game. We are disappointed. Maybe in a couple of days we will think more positively about everything. We can take a lot of good stuff out of the Olympics, and use that for motivation for the next term.”

Clemens Wickler (GER)
Nicolai and Lupo (ITA) trying to reach for the ball

Rio 2016 silver medallists, Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo (ITA) couldn’t make it to the semifinals of Tokyo 2020 after losing 0-2 (17-21, 21-23) to the Qataris Cherif Younousse and Ahmed/Tijan. The No.1 team as per FIVB ranking, Cherif/Ahmed stood better in the first set and took with no big problems. The Italians put up a real fight in the second one, but at 21-21, some team errors led them to losing the match. Equal on the serve, both sides kept the same level also on attack (26 to 25 winning spikes for the winners). The Qataris were able to record three more blocks (six to three), and score two more points on their opponents’ errors.

“It's a bittersweet feeling because we are out of the Olympic Games so, we cannot be happy. However, I believe we fought really hard on the court, and we’ve played our Olympics in the right way. It's not easy today, but we are still proud of all the team and of what we have done on the court.”

Paolo Nicolai (ITA)

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