Open Beach Volleyball Championship enthuses participants
Back left too right; Heiko Kesselmann – NVF Vice President, Bank Windhoek Representative, Joel Matheus – NVF President Athanasios Papageorgiou – FIVB Delegate, Front left too right Men’s Namibian Champions Philip Schulz & James Verrinder
The Bank Windhoek Namibian Beach Volleyball Open 2016 Competition recently held in Swakopmund saw about 30 top volleyball teams join in on the action.
The competing categories were:Experienced Men’s, Experienced Women’s, and Youth Girls under 18’s, Social 2-a-side including Youth Boys under 18’s & Mixed 4-a-side.
The men’s Championship Title went to Philip Schulz (20) and James Verrinder (40). This was the first ever tournament win for Philip, who played alongside James, his coach and Namibian National Beach Volleyball Coach. They overcame Brandon de Jager and Jan-Eric Sack in the final, winning 2:0 (21:11, 21:18) to be crowned Namibian Open Champions. Third place went to the very exciting young talent of Daniel & Fabian Pfiefer.
Women’s first place went to the duo, Kristin Schulz (17) and Michaela Boehringer (16). It was the first ever final qualification and win for both, in which they delivered a flawless performance. After 2 third places last year, they displayed their sharpened abilities. They overcame Rosi Hennes and Stephanie Palmhert in the Women’s final, winning 2:0 (21:19, 21:13) to take the title. Third place went to the experience pair of Anita Kinder & Simone von Wietersheim.
The competitive opening games were supplemented by Free Youth Coaching Sessions, led by the NVF National Beach Volleyball Coach, who gave an opportunity to local boys and girls, aged 8-13 years, to try beach volleyball.
The Namibian Volleyball Federation (NVF) in effort of decentralization of the sport aims to move its focus away from the capital and into the regions. The NVF will only host 2 beach volleyball events this year; NAM Open – Independence weekend (19-20th March) and in Oshakati – (July) date to be announced.
Other final results were:
Youth Girls Final: Carmen Curschmann and Carmen Gaugler vs Jasmin Baas and Ranjana Metzger 2:0 (21:17, 21:16). The Carmen’s remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and finished well deserved winners. Carman Deikmann & Lara Lusse came 3rd.
Social / Boys Final: Luke Brinkmann and Kimber Brain vs Marc-Andre Witte and Bentje Mehnert. 2:0 (21:10, 21:13). Luke & Kimber became strong every game they played and dominated the final with their best performance over the weekend. Lizette & Amundus Roettcher came 3rd.
Mixed 4-a-side Final: Classic Team vs Pumas 2:0 (21:16, 21:14). Both Swakop teams play great volleyball throughout the weekend and it was a very close contest in the final with the Classic Team edging it and taking the title. Phoenix X came 3rd.
