At the 2025 Nuvali Challenge—a prominent event on the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour—teams from Belgium and Australia made headlines by advancing to the men's eighthfinals after dominating performances in Friday’s sixteenthfinals in Nuvali, Philippines.
Belgium’s U21 Champions Make a Statement
The Belgian pair, Kyan Vercauteren and Joppe Van Langendonck, currently seeded 30th and reigning U21 world champions, displayed poise and precision during their straight-set victory over Germany's Maximilian Just and Philipp Huster (23-21, 22-20). Their next match will pose a challenge as they face the higher-seeded English brothers, Javier and Joaquin Bello.
Australia Dominates with Two Teams Advancing
Australia’s D’Artagnan Potts and Jack Pearse overpowered fellow Australians Ben Hood and Oliver Merritt with a commanding 2-0 win (21-16, 21-18). Jack Pearse was particularly impressive, delivering 21 points to drive his team forward. The duo now prepares to take on Italy’s sixth seeds, Manuel Alfieri and Alex Ranghieri.
Another all-Australian showdown featured Thomas Hodges and Paul Burnett, who secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Americans Timothy Brewster and Ryan Ierna in one of the most intense matches of the day.
Other Highlights
- An all-Austrian battle saw Julian Horl and Laurenc Grossig outlast veterans Robin Seidl and Alexander Huber in a three-set thriller.
- Saturday’s eighthfinals are scheduled to begin at 09:00 local time, as teams vie for a coveted spot in the quarterfinals.
Growing Global Appeal
The Nuvali Challenge has underscored the expanding international appeal of beach volleyball, especially across Asia. With elite athletes from across continents competing in closely-fought matches, the event showcases the sport’s growing popularity and competitive depth.
For more details and ongoing tournament updates, visit the official website of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour.
