Top beach volleyball squads from around the globe delivered dominant performances in the qualification rounds of the Cape Town Elite16, a major stop on the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour. Hosted in South Africa, this high-stakes qualifier saw teams from 13 countries competing fiercely for a place in the main draw.
All 16 qualification matches concluded with straight-set wins, reflecting the high level of efficiency and preparedness from the advancing teams.
Historic Moment for Mozambique
In the women's division, Vanessa Muianga and Mercia Mucheza etched their names in the books, becoming the first team from Mozambique to qualify for a main draw in the Elite16 by defeating South Africa's top pair 2-0 (21-13, 21-14). They were also the only non-European or U.S. team to advance.
European Dominance
Europe continued to show its depth in beach volleyball. Teams from the following countries earned their spots:
- Austria
- Czechia
- England
- Estonia
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- Lithuania
- Netherlands
- Norway
Meanwhile, the USA backed its reputation by advancing three pairs into the main draw.
Fastest Wins and Notable Upsets
Highlighting the day was Lithuania’s Ieva Dumbauskaite and Gerda Grudzinskaite, who secured the fastest win in just 18 minutes with an overwhelming 21-5, 21-3 victory. Dumbauskaite’s 12 aces were a standout individual performance.
On the men's side, England’s Issa Batrane and Frederick Bialokoz delivered the only upset in terms of seeding, toppling Czechia’s Jan Dumek and David Westphal in 37 minutes. Austria’s Alexander Horst and Moritz Pristauz also dazzled, crushing Lesotho’s duo 21-3, 21-4 in yet another 18-minute match.
Main Draw Heats Up
The tournament moves ahead with the men’s main draw beginning Wednesday and women’s pool play starting Thursday. As top international teams prepare to clash, Cape Town continues to build its status as a premier venue for elite beach volleyball events.
For more details, visit the official tournament page on Volleyball World.
