Karla Borger, a veteran of the beach volleyball circuit, secured a significant milestone alongside new partner Hanna-Marie Schieder by winning the gold medal at the 2025 Cervia Futures in Italy. The tournament, a stop on the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour, marked a turning point for the newly formed German duo.
Entering the competition as the second seed, Borger and Schieder advanced to the final with an impeccable record, not dropping a single set in their initial four matches. In a closely contested championship matchup, they triumphed over Czech siblings Katerina and Anna Pavelkova with scores of 24-22, 15-21, 15-11. This notable victory represents their very first podium finish as a team, achieved impressively in just their third outing together.
For the 36-year-old Borger, this win is also a meaningful personal comeback. A former World Tour Finals champion in 2021, her last Beach Pro Tour gold came in 2023 with previous partner Sandra Ittlinger.
Women’s Podium Results
- Gold: Karla Borger & Hanna-Marie Schieder (Germany)
- Silver: Katerina & Anna Pavelkova (Czech Republic)
- Bronze: Ziva Javornik & Tajda Lovsin (Slovenia)
The Pavelkova twins’ silver medal performance was particularly commendable, as they rebounded from an early defeat with five consecutive victories. The bronze went to Slovenia’s Javornik and Lovsin after they narrowly edged out Hungary’s Kun and Villam in three sets.
Men’s Tournament Highlights
- Gold: Tiziano Andreatta & Davide Benzi (Italy)
- Silver: Robin Sowa & Jonas Reinhardt (Germany)
- Bronze: Mads Mollgaard & Nicolai Hovmann (Denmark)
Italy’s Andreatta and Benzi delivered a perfect week, clinching gold following a tight 2-1 final against Germany’s Sowa and Reinhardt. Denmark’s team of Mollgaard and Hovmann added to their growing résumé with a second career bronze medal on the tour.
The Cervia Futures featured a strong field, with 28 teams per gender representing 24 different countries. The Beach Pro Tour’s next stop is in Madrid, Spain, where the Women’s Futures event gets underway on May 15.
For more information, visit the official tournament recap on the Volleyball World website.
