Empowerment-backed teams made a significant impact at the Nuvali Beach Volleyball Challenge in the Philippines by capturing five out of six medals available. This successful showing underscores the growing effectiveness of the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment initiative on the global stage.
Dominance in the Women’s Division
The women’s tournament ended in a clean sweep by Empowerment-supported teams:
- Gold: Anniina Parkkinen and Valma Prihti from Finland – undefeated through seven matches after starting in the qualifiers
- Silver: Ieva Dumbauskaite and Gerda Grudzinskaite of Lithuania
- Bronze: Stefanie Fejes and Jasmine Fleming from Australia
Strong Showing in the Men’s Tournament
The men's event featured another stellar performance from Empowerment squads:
- Gold: Spain’s Alejandro Huerta and Adrian Gavira after a close final
- Silver: Joaquin and Javier Bello from England – their first ever Tour silver medal
- Bronze: Italy’s Manuel Alfieri and Alex Ranghieri after a comeback in their final match
Wider Participation and Support
The event featured 89 teams from 30 countries, bringing international flair and a competitive atmosphere. Empowerment teams received extensive support from the FIVB, including:
- Funding for coaching personnel
- Training equipment
- Long-term development programs
To date, Empowerment investments in countries like Finland, Lithuania, Australia, Spain, and England have surpassed USD 1.5 million, further boosting their ability to train and perform at elite levels.
The performance of these teams in Nuvali proves that the FIVB Empowerment strategy is yielding real-world results—developing not just participants, but contenders on the Beach Pro Tour.
For more information, visit the official FIVB article.
