FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Team Kelly, the newly formed partnership of former UCLA star Kelly Reeves and current USC senior Kelly Claes, won twice on Tuesday in qualifier play to advance into Wednesday’s FIVB Major Series main bracket.
“Kelly and I are excited to compete today as we start pool play”, Reeves said. “Qualifying into the main draw was an exciting moment for the two of us, a first for me. We definitely enjoyed the moment, however today is a new day and our focus is taking one match at a time. We are going to embrace this opportunity and of course have some fun.”
Other Americans had mixed results. Emily Day and Brittany Hochevar advanced with a second-round victory, but Kim DiCello and Emily Stockman, who won their first match, were eliminated in round two.
“Britt and I played solid ball today,” Day said. “Our coach gave us a good game plan and we executed it well. We’re excited to start the main draw and play in front of a U.S. crowd.”
Hochevar agreed.
“Pumped to be competing on home soil in such a massive event,” Hochevar said. “The Swatch Major Series is always an honor to be a part of. We got the job done today and look forward to more fun tomorrow.”
Among the American men, Trevor Crabb and Sean Rosenthal won twice to move on, but the team of Billy Allen and Stafford Slick were ousted.
“We both sided out well all day, Crabb said, “and scored points when we needed to. We fought through a tough three set match to qualify and I’m excited to see what we can do in the main draw tomorrow.”
Wednesday also marks the appearance of 18-year-old Brazilian phenom Eduarda Santos Lisboa, who will play with 2015 world champion Agatha Bednarczuk, 33. Together they’ve already made an impact, upsetting the top Brazilian team of Larissa Franca and Talita Antunes 21-18, 20-22, 14-16 on the Brazilian national tour in Joao Pessao on January 29.
The 6-footer, playing last year with 32-year-old partner Elize Maia, won the FIVB Maceio and Fortaleza stops in Brazil, and finished second in Puerto Vallarta.
Not surprisingly, Lisboa also dominated the FIVB Youth competition, winning the U21 world championships with Ana Patricia Silva, and the U19 with Victoria Pereira. It marked the third consecutive U19 title for Lisboa, having won in 2013 with Taina Silva and 2014 with Andressa Cavalcanti. Accordingly, Lisboa was awarded the coveted FIVB Rookie of the year award for 2016.
It felt great to have made great progress last year, especially to achieve two titles at this age,” she told us recently by email through an interpreter.
Lisboa, who is from the interior of Sergipe, in São Cristóvão, now lives and trains in Rio de Janeiro.
“I started playing at age 5 because of my mother,” she said. “I learned to play volleyball at a local volleyball school where my mother coached. From there I started traveling to championships to watch her play on the Brazilian national beach volleyball tour, so I grew up on a beach volleyball court. At 12-years-old I began competing in junior events.”
She’s excited about partnering with Bednarczuk.
“It’s a huge step, partnering with a player that has accomplished so much and has so much experience. I have learned so much from her already, just being able to discuss tactics with her. This is a big step for me in my development as a player.”
For more about the FIVB’s first SWATCH Major Series event of the year and a feature on German Karla Borger, click here.
Women’s Qualifier Bracket
Round 1
Match 2: Nicole Eiholzer/Dunja Gerson Switzerland (Q17) def. Niina Ahtiainen/Ida Sinisalo Finland (Q16) 21-13, 21-19 (0:29)
Match 3: Kelly Claes/Kelly Reeves United States (Q9) def. Agnieszka Pregowska/Aleksandra Wachowicz Poland (Q24) 21-10, 21-12 (0:20)
Match 6: Milena Matic/Marija Milosevic Serbia (Q12) def. Suzuka Hashimoto/Sayaka Mizoe Japan (Q21) 22-24, 21-17, 15-9 (0:51)
Match 7: Samaa Miyagawa/Megumi Murakami Japan (Q20) def. Marie-Christine Lapointe/Megan Nagy Canada (Q13) 21-14, 21-18 (0:24)
Match 10: Angela Lobato/Amaranta Navarro Spain (Q14) def. Eliska Galova/Sara Olivova Czech Republic (Q19) 16-21, 17-16 retired (0:52)
Match 11: Kim DiCello/Emily Stockman United States (Q11) def. Sakurako Fujii/Chiyo Suzuki Japan (Q22) 21-13, 17-21, 15-13 (0:46)
Match 14: Azusa Futami/Akiko Hasegawa Japan (Q23) def. Alexandra Jupiter/Ophelie Lusson France (Q10) 21-17, 20-22, 15-13 (0:39)
Match 15: Magdalena Dostalova/Karolina Rehackova Czech Republic (Q15) def. Aline Chamereau/Lezana Placette France (Q18) 21-14, 21-17 (0:37)
Round 2
Match 17: Josemari Alves/Liliane Maestrini Brazil (Q1) def. Nicole Eiholzer/Dunja Gerson Switzerland (Q17) 21-8, 21-16 (0:30)
Match 18: Kelly Claes/Kelly Reeves United States (Q9) def. Julie Gordon/Camille Saxton Canada (Q8) 21-18, 21-17 (0:26)
Match 19: Sandra Ittlinger/Teresa Mersmann Germany (Q5) def. Milena Matic/Marija Milosevic Serbia (Q12) 21-12, 21-16 (0:30)
Match 20: Emily Day/Brittany Hochevar United States (Q4) def. Samaa Miyagawa/Megumi Murakami Japan (Q20) 21-15, 21-9 (0:20)
Match 21: Ekaterina Birlova/Nadezda Makroguzova Russia (Q3) def. Angela Lobato/Amaranta Navarro Spain (Q14) 21-11, 21-19 (0:30)
Match 22: Jolien Sinnema/Joy Stubbe Netherlands (Q6) def. Kim DiCello/Emily Stockman United States (Q11) 21-18, 23-25, 15-12 (0:50)
Match 23: Manon Nummerdor-Flier/Marleen Van Iersel Netherlands (Q7) def. Azusa Futami/Akiko Hasegawa Japan (Q23) 21-18, 21-13 (0:37)
Match 24: Fernanda Alves/Barbara Seixas Brazil (Q2) def. Magdalena Dostalova/Karolina Rehackova Czech Republic (Q15) 21-13, 21-14 (0:23)
Men’s Qualifier Bracket
Round 1
Match 2: Romain Di Giantommaso/Maxime Thiercy France (Q17) def. Quincy Aye/Youssef Krou France (Q16) 14-21, 21-15, 15-13 (0:44)
Match 3: Armin Dollinger/Jonathan Erdmann Germany (Q9) def. Maxim Sivolap/Igor Velichko Russia (Q24) 23-25, 22-20, 19-17 (1:02)
Match 6: Trevor Crabb/Sean Rosenthal United States (Q12) def. Mirco Gerson/Michiel Zandbergen Switzerland (Q21) 21-15, 21-17 (0:32)
Match 7: Ondrej Perusic/David Schweiner Czech Republic (Q20) def. Felipe Humana-Paredes/Christian Redmann Canada (Q13) 24-22, 14-21, 15-12 (0:50)
Match 10: Daniel Bergerud/Svein Solhaug Norway (Q14) def. Kusti Nolvak/Mart Tiisaar Estonia (Q19) 21-14, 21-18 (0:33)
Match 11: Sean Faiga/Ariel Hilman Israel (Q11) def. Martin Appelgren/Simon Boman Sweden (Q22) 21-15, 21-12 (0:38)
Match 14: Nico Beeler/Marco Krattiger Switzerland (Q10) def. Adrian Heidrich/Gabriel Kissling Switzerland (Q23) 21-12, 21-15 (0:29)
Match 15: Bennet Poniewaz/David Poniewaz Germany (Q18) def. Rihards Finsters/Edgars Tocs Latvia (Q15) 21-10, 21-19 (0:33)
Round 2
Match 17: Saymon Barbosa/Alvaro Filho Brazil (Q1) def. Romain Di Giantommaso/Maxime Thiercy France (Q17) 21-13, 21-16 (0:30)
Match 18: Robin Seidl/Tobias Winter Austria (Q8) def. Armin Dollinger/Jonathan Erdmann Germany (Q9) 21-17, 21-17 (0:36)
Match 19: Trevor Crabb/Sean Rosenthal United States (Q12) def. Mathias Berntsen/Christian Sorum Norway (Q5) 21-18, 15-21, 15-11 (0:45)
Match 20: Kay Matysik/Alexander Walkenhorst Germany (Q4) def. Ondrej Perusic/David Schweiner Czech Republic (Q20) 25-23, 21-19 (0:45)
Match 21: Christoph Dressler/Thomas Kunert Austria (Q3) def. Daniel Bergerud/Svein Solhaug Norway (Q14) 24-22, 21-14 (0:40)
Match 22: Maciej Rudol/Jakub Szalankiewicz Poland (Q6) def. Sean Faiga/Ariel Hilman Israel (Q11) 21-16, 21-19 (0:35)
Match 23: Nico Beeler/Marco Krattiger Switzerland (Q10) def. Billy Allen/Stafford Slick United States (Q7) 15-21, 22-20, 17-15 (0:48)
Match 24: Bennet Poniewaz/David Poniewaz Germany (Q18) def. Dries Koekelkoren/Tom van Walle Belgium (Q2) 21-19, 23-25, 18-16 (1:02)
Wednesday’s Women’s Matches
Pool A — Round 1
Match 1: April Ross/Kerri Walsh Jennings United States (1) vs. Manon Nummerdor-Flier/Marleen Van Iersel Netherlands (32, Q7)
Match 2: Fernanda Alves/Barbara Seixas Brazil (16, Q2) vs. Taru Lahti/Anniina Parkkinen Finland (17)
Round 2
Match 17: April Ross/Kerri Walsh Jennings United States (1) vs. Taru Lahti/Anniina Parkkinen Finland (17)
Match 18: Fernanda Alves/Barbara Seixas Brazil (16, Q2) vs. Manon Nummerdor-Flier/Marleen Van Iersel Netherlands (32, Q7)
Round 3
Match 33: April Ross/Kerri Walsh Jennings United States (1) vs. Fernanda Alves/Barbara Seixas Brazil (16, Q2)
Match 34: Taru Lahti/Anniina Parkkinen Finland (17) vs. Manon Nummerdor-Flier/Marleen Van Iersel Netherlands (32, Q7)
Pool B — Round 1
Match 3: Talita Antunes/Larissa Franca Brazil (2) vs. Jolien Sinnema/Joy Stubbe Netherlands (31, Q6)
Match 4: Louise Bawden/Nicole Laird Australia (15) vs. Lauren Fendrick/Sara Hughes United States (18)
Round 2
Match 19: Talita Antunes/Larissa Franca Brazil (2) vs. Lauren Fendrick/Sara Hughes United States (18)
Match 20: Louise Bawden/Nicole Laird Australia (15) vs. Jolien Sinnema/Joy Stubbe Netherlands (31, Q6)
Round 3
Match 35: Talita Antunes/Larissa Franca Brazil (2) vs. Louise Bawden/Nicole Laird Australia (15)
Match 36: Lauren Fendrick/Sara Hughes United States (18) vs. Jolien Sinnema/Joy Stubbe Netherlands (31, Q6)
Pool C — Round 1
Match 5: Chantal Laboureur/Julia Sude Germany (3) vs. Kelly Claes/Kelly Reeves United States (30, Q9)
Match 6: Josemari Alves/Liliane Maestrini Brazil (14, Q1) vs. Marta Menegatti/Rebecca Perry Italy (19)
Round 2
Match 21: Chantal Laboureur/Julia Sude Germany (3) vs. Marta Menegatti/Rebecca Perry Italy (19)
Match 22: Josemari Alves/Liliane Maestrini Brazil (14, Q1) vs. Kelly Claes/Kelly Reeves United States (30, Q9)
Round 3
Match 37: Chantal Laboureur/Julia Sude Germany (3) vs. Josemari Alves/Liliane Maestrini Brazil (14, Q1)
Match 38: Marta Menegatti/Rebecca Perry Italy (19) vs. Kelly Claes/Kelly Reeves United States (30, Q9)
Pool D — Round 1
Match 7: Julia Grossner/Kira Walkenhorst Germany (4) vs. Sandra Ittlinger/Teresa Mersmann Germany (29, Q5)
Match 8: Summer Ross/Brooke Sweat United States (13) vs. Kristina May/Taylor Pischke Canada (20)
Round 2
Match 23: Julia Grossner/Kira Walkenhorst Germany (4) vs. Kristina May/Taylor Pischke Canada (20)
Match 24: Summer Ross/Brooke Sweat United States (13) vs. Sandra Ittlinger/Teresa Mersmann Germany (29, Q5)
Round 3
Match 39: Julia Grossner/Kira Walkenhorst Germany (4) vs. Summer Ross/Brooke Sweat United States (13)
Match 40: Kristina May/Taylor Pischke Canada (20) vs. Sandra Ittlinger/Teresa Mersmann Germany (29, Q5)
Pool E — Round 1
Match 9: Agatha Bednarczuk/Eduarda Lisboa Brazil (5) vs. Emily Day/Brittany Hochevar United States (28, Q4)
Match 10: Madelein Meppelink/Sophie van Gestel Netherlands (12) vs. Victoria Bieneck/Isabel Schneider Germany (21)
Round 2
Match 25: Agatha Bednarczuk/Eduarda Lisboa Brazil (5) vs. Victoria Bieneck/Isabel Schneider Germany (21)
Match 26: Madelein Meppelink/Sophie van Gestel Netherlands (12) vs. Emily Day/Brittany Hochevar United States (28, Q4)
Round 3
Match 41: Agatha Bednarczuk/Eduarda Lisboa Brazil (5) vs. Madelein Meppelink/Sophie van Gestel Netherlands (12)
Match 42: Victoria Bieneck/Isabel Schneider Germany (21) vs. Emily Day/Brittany Hochevar United States (28, Q4)
Pool F — Round 1
Match 11: Joana Heidrich/Anouk Verge-Depre Switzerland (6) vs. Lane Carico/Irene Hester Pollock United States (27)
Match 12: Heather Bansley/Brandie Wilkerson Canada (11) vs. Kristyna Kolocova/Michala Kvapilova Czech Republic (22)
Round 2
Match 27: Joana Heidrich/Anouk Verge-Depre Switzerland (6) vs. Kristyna Kolocova/Michala Kvapilova Czech Republic (22)
Match 28: Heather Bansley/Brandie Wilkerson Canada (11) vs. Lane Carico/Irene Hester Pollock United States (27)
Round 3
Match 43: Joana Heidrich/Anouk Verge-Depre Switzerland (6) vs. Heather Bansley/Brandie Wilkerson Canada (11)
Match 44: Kristyna Kolocova/Michala Kvapilova Czech Republic (22) vs. Lane Carico/Irene Hester Pollock United States (27)
Pool G — Round 1
Match 13: Taiana Lima/Elize Maia Brazil (7) vs. Ekaterina Birlova/Nadezda Makroguzova Russia (26, Q3)
Match 14: Ana Gallay/Georgina Klug Argentina (10) vs. Karla Borger/Margareta Kozuch Germany (23)
Round 2
Match 29: Taiana Lima/Elize Maia Brazil (7) vs. Karla Borger/Margareta Kozuch Germany (23)
Match 30: Ana Gallay/Georgina Klug Argentina (10) vs. Ekaterina Birlova/Nadezda Makroguzova Russia (26, Q3)
Round 3
Match 45: Taiana Lima/Elize Maia Brazil (7) vs. Ana Gallay/Georgina Klug Argentina (10)
Match 46: Karla Borger/Margareta Kozuch Germany (23) vs. Ekaterina Birlova/Nadezda Makroguzova Russia (26, Q3)
Pool H — Round 1
Match 15: Nina Betschart/Tanja Huberli Switzerland (8) vs. Katharina Schutzenhofer/Stefanie Schwaiger Austria (25)
Match 16: Barbora Hermannova/Marketa Slukova Czech Republic (9) vs. Anastasia Barsuk/Evgeniya Ukolova Russia (24)
Round 2
Match 31: Nina Betschart/Tanja Huberli Switzerland (8) vs. Anastasia Barsuk/Evgeniya Ukolova Russia (24)
Match 32: Barbora Hermannova/Marketa Slukova Czech Republic (9) vs. Katharina Schutzenhofer/Stefanie Schwaiger Austria (25)
Round 3
Match 47: Nina Betschart/Tanja Huberli Switzerland (8) vs. Barbora Hermannova/Marketa Slukova Czech Republic (9)
Match 48: Anastasia Barsuk/Evgeniya Ukolova Russia (24) vs. Katharina Schutzenhofer/Stefanie Schwaiger Austria (25)
Wednesday’s Men’s Matches
Pool A —Round 1
Match 1: Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena United States (1) vs. Harley Marques/Ricardo Santos Brazil (32)
Match 2: Oleg Stoyanovskiy/Artem Yarzutkin Russia (16) vs. Clemens Doppler/Alexander Horst Austria (17)
Round 2
Match 17: Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena United States (1) vs. Clemens Doppler/Alexander Horst Austria (17)
Match 18: Oleg Stoyanovskiy/Artem Yarzutkin Russia (16) vs. Harley Marques/Ricardo Santos Brazil (32)
Round 3
Match 33: Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena United States (1) vs. Oleg Stoyanovskiy/Artem Yarzutkin Russia (16)
Match 34: Clemens Doppler/Alexander Horst Austria (17) vs. Harley Marques/Ricardo Santos Brazil (32)
Pool B — Round 1
Match 3: Aleksandrs Samoilovs/Janis Smedins Latvia (2) vs. Trevor Crabb/Sean Rosenthal United States (31, Q12)
Match 4: Viacheslav Krasilnikov/Nikita Liamin Russia (15) vs. Kacper Kujawiak/Mariusz Prudel Poland (18)
Round 2
Match 19: Aleksandrs Samoilovs/Janis Smedins Latvia (2) vs. Kacper Kujawiak/Mariusz Prudel Poland (18)
Match 20: Viacheslav Krasilnikov/Nikita Liamin Russia (15) vs. Trevor Crabb/Sean Rosenthal United States (31, Q12)
Round 3
Match 35: Aleksandrs Samoilovs/Janis Smedins Latvia (2) vs. Viacheslav Krasilnikov/Nikita Liamin Russia (15)
Match 36: Kacper Kujawiak/Mariusz Prudel Poland (18) vs. Trevor Crabb/Sean Rosenthal United States (31, Q12)
Pool C — Round 1
Match 5: Alison Cerutti/Bruno Oscar Schmidt Brazil (3) vs. Bennet Poniewaz/David Poniewaz Germany (30, Q18)
Match 6: Theo Brunner/Casey Patterson United States (14) vs. Markus Bockermann/Lars Fluggen Germany (19)
Round 2
Match 21: Alison Cerutti/Bruno Oscar Schmidt Brazil (3) vs. Markus Bockermann/Lars Fluggen Germany (19)
Match 22: Theo Brunner/Casey Patterson United States (14) vs. Bennet Poniewaz/David Poniewaz Germany (30, Q18)
Round 3
Match 37: Alison Cerutti/Bruno Oscar Schmidt Brazil (3) vs. Theo Brunner/Casey Patterson United States (14)
Match 38: Markus Bockermann/Lars Fluggen Germany (19) vs. Bennet Poniewaz/David Poniewaz Germany (30, Q18)
Pool D — Round 1
Match 7: Gustavo Carvalhaes/Pedro Solberg Brazil (4) vs. Nico Beeler/Marco Krattiger Switzerland (29, Q10)
Match 8: Michal Bryl/Grzegorz Fijalek Poland (13) vs. Martins Plavins/Haralds Regza Latvia (20)
Round 2
Match 23: Gustavo Carvalhaes/Pedro Solberg Brazil (4) vs. Martins Plavins/Haralds Regza Latvia (20)
Match 24: Michal Bryl/Grzegorz Fijalek Poland (13) vs. Nico Beeler/Marco Krattiger Switzerland (29, Q10)
Round 3
Match 39: Gustavo Carvalhaes/Pedro Solberg Brazil (4) vs. Michal Bryl/Grzegorz Fijalek Poland (13)
Match 40: Martins Plavins/Haralds Regza Latvia (20) vs. Nico Beeler/Marco Krattiger Switzerland (29, Q10)
Pool E — Round 1
Match 9: Piotr Kantor/Bartosz Losiak Poland (5) vs. Robin Seidl/Tobias Winter Austria (28, Q8)
Match 10: Sam Pedlow/Sam Schachter Canada (12) vs. Grant O’Gorman/Michael Plantinga Canada (21)
Round 2
Match 25: Piotr Kantor/Bartosz Losiak Poland (5) vs. Grant O’Gorman/Michael Plantinga Canada (21)
Match 26: Sam Pedlow/Sam Schachter Canada (12) vs. Robin Seidl/Tobias Winter Austria (28, Q8)
Round 3
Match 41: Piotr Kantor/Bartosz Losiak Poland (5) vs. Sam Pedlow/Sam Schachter Canada (12)
Match 42: Grant O’Gorman/Michael Plantinga Canada (21) vs. Robin Seidl/Tobias Winter Austria (28, Q8)
Pool F — Round 1
Match 11: Adrian Gavira/Pablo Herrera Spain (6) vs. Maciej Rudol/Jakub Szalankiewicz Poland (27, Q6)
Match 12: Taylor Crabb/Jake Gibb United States (11) vs. Marco Caminati/Alex Ranghieri Italy (22)
Round 2
Match 27: Adrian Gavira/Pablo Herrera Spain (6) vs. Marco Caminati/Alex Ranghieri Italy (22)
Match 28: Taylor Crabb/Jake Gibb United States (11) vs. Maciej Rudol/Jakub Szalankiewicz Poland (27, Q6)
Round 3
Match 43: Adrian Gavira/Pablo Herrera Spain (6) vs. Taylor Crabb/Jake Gibb United States (11)
Match 44: Marco Caminati/Alex Ranghieri Italy (22) vs. Maciej Rudol/Jakub Szalankiewicz Poland (27, Q6)
Pool G — Round 1
Match 13: Ben Saxton/Chaim Schalk Canada (7) vs. Kay Matysik/Alexander Walkenhorst Germany (26, Q4)
Match 14: Daniele Lupo/Paolo Nicolai Italy (10) vs. Esteban Grimalt/Marco Grimalt Chile (23)
Round 2
Match 29: Ben Saxton/Chaim Schalk Canada (7) vs. Esteban Grimalt/Marco Grimalt Chile (23)
Match 30: Daniele Lupo/Paolo Nicolai Italy (10) vs. Kay Matysik/Alexander Walkenhorst Germany (26, Q4)
Round 3
Match 45: Ben Saxton/Chaim Schalk Canada (7) vs. Daniele Lupo/Paolo Nicolai Italy (10)
Match 46: Esteban Grimalt/Marco Grimalt Chile (23) vs. Kay Matysik/Alexander Walkenhorst Germany (26, Q4)
Pool H — Round 1
Match 15: Evandro Goncalves/Andre Loyola Brazil (8) vs. Christoph Dressler/Thomas Kunert Austria (25, Q3)
Match 16: Saymon Barbosa/Alvaro Filho Brazil (9, Q1) vs. Ryan Doherty/John Hyden United States (24)
Round 2
Match 31: Evandro Goncalves/Andre Loyola Brazil (8) vs. Ryan Doherty/John Hyden United States (24)
Match 32: Saymon Barbosa/Alvaro Filho Brazil (9, Q1) vs. Christoph Dressler/Thomas Kunert Austria (25, Q3)
Round 3
Match 47: Evandro Goncalves/Andre Loyola Brazil (8) vs. Saymon Barbosa/Alvaro Filho Brazil (9, Q1)
Match 48: Ryan Doherty/John Hyden United States (24) vs. Christoph Dressler/Thomas Kunert Austria (25, Q3)
Thanks to BVBinfo.com and Beach Volleyball Database for the results and schedule
