The recent zonal beach volleyball tournaments in Austria and Turkiye showcased the rising prominence of national teams from Austria and Greece. These events, held under the umbrella of the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program, provided a competitive platform for emerging and established duos to shine on an international stage.
Greece Triumphs in Turkiye
In Balikesir, Turkiye, Greece's women’s team of Dimitra Manavi and Elisavet Triantafillidi delivered a standout performance, securing the gold medal after a straight-sets win against the Netherlands’ Benthe Essink and Lieke Gijsen.
The Greek men’s team also made their mark, with Stavros Ntallas and Dimitrios Chatzinikolaou taking bronze. They were defeated in the semifinals by hosts Yusuf Ozdemir and Batuhan Kuru, who ultimately claimed the top spot.
Austria Dominates in Innsbruck
The MEVZA Zonal Tour in Innsbruck saw Austrian athletes control the men's field:
- Laurenc Grossig and Maximilian Trummer won gold.
- Felix Friedl and Florian Schnetzer captured bronze.
- Slovakia’s Lubos Nemec and Adrian Petruf claimed silver.
On the women’s side, Austrians Lia Berger and Lilli Hohenauer delivered an impressive performance, taking home gold after a decisive win over Hungary’s Stefania Flora Kun and Lilla Villam.
Other Notable Results
Czechia earned a women’s bronze, with the duo of Andrea Lorenzova and Mariana Tomasova beating Slovenia’s top-seeded team. These events welcomed a diverse mix of national programs such as:
- The Netherlands
- Romania
- Bulgaria
- Moldova
- Israel
Wider Impact of the Events
In total, 26 women’s teams and 43 men’s teams competed across the two tour venues. With both seasoned and fast-rising players taking part, the BVA and MEVZA events served as important stages for athletes to gain visibility and competitive experience.
For more on the performances and the FIVB Empowerment program, read the official report on the FIVB website.
