Germany’s Momme Lorenz and Tilo Rietschel delivered a stunning performance at the 2025 Cape Town Elite16 stop of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour, emerging as unexpected leaders of Pool C. Starting as qualifiers and seeded just 22nd out of 24 teams, the young duo, both 21, defied the odds with two thrilling tie-break victories, securing a direct spot in the second elimination round.
Their campaign began with a gritty comeback win over third-seeded Dutch Olympians Steven van de Velde and Alexander Brouwer, finishing 2-1 (11-21, 21-19, 15-12). They followed it up with a decisive 2-1 (18-21, 21-18, 15-10) triumph over Brazil’s Adelmo Folha and Mateus Dultra, effectively sealing their top position in Pool C. The German underdogs have rapidly become central figures in one of the tournament’s most compelling narratives.
In another milestone moment, Mozambique’s Jose Mondlane and Osvaldo Mungoi made history by becoming the first African men’s team to advance to the Elite16 playoffs. They clinched a 2-0 (26-24, 21-18) victory over England’s Frederick Bialokoz and Issa Batrane in Pool A—marking their first-ever win on the tour.
Other standout performances from top pool finishers include:
- Sweden’s top-seeded Jacob Nilsson and Elmer Andersson (Pool A)
- Czech Republic’s Tadeas Trousil and Jiri Sedlak (Pool B)
- Germany’s Olympic silver medalists Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler (Pool D)
- Norway’s Mathias Berntsen and Hendrik Mol (Pool E)
- Austria’s Timo Hammarberg and Tim Berger (Pool F)
As the men’s elimination rounds begin Friday with the round of 18, all eyes are now on Lorenz and Rietschel, who have not only shocked higher-ranked opponents but also captured the hearts of fans and analysts. Their rise symbolizes a broader shift in global beach volleyball dynamics and highlights Cape Town’s growing role as a proving ground for emerging contenders.
Read the full story on the Volleyball World website.
