Polish duo Malgorzata Ciezkowska and Urszula Lunio delighted local fans on Thursday as they clinched first place in their pool during the Beach Pro Tour Warmia Mazury Challenge, securing a direct spot in the Round of 16.
Competing at the picturesque Anders Hotel Beach in Poland, the 2023 U20 European champions demonstrated exceptional form. Their group included seasoned Olympians, but Ciezkowska and Lunio delivered two straight-set victories:
- Defeated Australian Olympic silver medalist Taliqua Clancy and Jana Milutinovic (24-22, 21-10)
- Overcame Brazil’s Vitória Rodrigues and Hegeile Almeida (21-16, 21-15)
Other notable nations also made a strong impression during pool play:
Germany and USA Impress
Germany and the United States each had two teams topping their pools and advancing directly to the knockout stage.
- Germany: Sandra Ittlinger/Anna-Lena Grüne and Lea Kunst/Melanie Paul
- United States: Savvy Simo/Abby Van Winkle and Kimberly Hildreth/Teegan Van Gunst
Other Pool Winners
Additional teams who secured first place in their groups include:
- Netherlands: Wies Bekhuis and Emi van Driel
- Ukraine: Maryna Hladun and Tetiana Lazarenko
- Spain: Daniela Álvarez and Tania Moreno (Olympians)
The tournament continues Friday with the Round of 24 and Round of 16 matches, leading into the weekend’s quarterfinals and semifinals on Saturday, followed by the medal matches on Sunday.
For full details and updates, visit the official article on Volleyball World.
