Finland’s Taru Lahti-Liukkonen and Niina Ahtiainen are set to battle American pair Toni Rodriguez and Kylie Kuyava-DeBerg in the women’s final of the Xiamen Challenge, a key event on the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour. The championship match is scheduled for Sunday at 18:30 local time (10:30 UTC) in China.
Path to the Final
Both finalists reached the championship match after grueling three-set semifinal victories on Saturday.
- Lahti & Ahtiainen, ranked 21st, defeated Germany’s Lea Kunst and Melanie Paul with scores of 2-1 (21-12, 18-21, 15-12). In the quarterfinals, they overcame Czechia's Marketa Svozilova and Marie-Sara Stochlova in an intense match.
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Toni & DeBerg, seeded 13th, earned their spot by defeating fellow Americans:
- Julia Scoles & Lexy Denaburg in the quarterfinals
- Savannah Simo & Abby Van Winkle in the semifinals
Milestones and Highlights
This final marks the third Challenge-level final appearance for Lahti & Ahtiainen. Meanwhile, it will be the first podium finish on the Beach Pro Tour for Toni & DeBerg, a significant achievement for the U.S. pair.
Bronze Medal Match
Before the final, the bronze medal will be contested between Germany’s Kunst & Paul and Americans Simo & Van Winkle. Both teams are celebrating their best performance to date in a Challenge event.
Xiamen Challenge Impact
The Xiamen Challenge continues to be a significant contributor to the advancement of international beach volleyball, providing athletes with vital ranking points and exposure on the global stage.
For more details, visit the official article on Volleyball World.
