Norwegian and Danish beach volleyball teams showcased their dominance at the recent NEVZA Zonal Tour event in Oddane Sand, Norway, by sweeping the women’s podium. Their performances reflect the ongoing positive impact of the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment initiatives.
Norway’s Oda Steinsvag and Frida Berntsen, the top seeds, clinched the gold medal without dropping a match. They secured a narrow 2-0 (21-19, 21-19) victory in the final against Denmark’s Clara Windeleff and Astrid Elisabeth Mellmolle. The host country also captured the bronze medal as Nina Pavlova and Sunniva Helland-Hansen defeated fellow Norwegians Cathrine Eikeland Hjeltnes and Tale Adine Fosseli in the third-place match.
Men’s Bracket Highlights
In the men’s competition, Sweden’s Martin Appelgren and Fabian Ramen triumphed with an unbeaten record, ultimately overcoming Norway’s Magnus Helgerud and Marius Pande in a closely fought 2-1 (21-11, 19-21, 16-14) final. Norway added to their medal collection with a bronze earned by Havard Solheim and Oscar Majak Gundersen, following the withdrawal of top-seeded compatriots Stian Opsahl and Jorgen Nylund Nilsen due to injury.
Wider Participation and Impact
The event featured a strong turnout with:
- 24 women’s teams
- 26 men’s teams
Countries represented included Denmark, England, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, highlighting the depth and competitiveness of beach volleyball in Northern Europe.
Empowerment Through FIVB Support
The notable performances are partly attributed to the funding from FIVB Volleyball Empowerment, which has provided crucial support for development:
- Norway received $252,000 for coach support and additional funding for development programs
- Denmark benefited from $126,000 for coaching and $6,000 for equipment
This success signals strong momentum for both nations as they prepare for future European and international competitions.
For more information, visit the official article on FIVB.com.
