In the Group G semifinals, Lithuanians Monika Paulikienė and Ainė Raupelytė, after a tough fight, defeated Polish players Julia Kielak and Zuzanna Kudlik 2:1 (17:21, 21:17, 15:12).
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At the beginning of the match, the Lithuanians did not find their game, and the tournament hosts took advantage of their opportunities to win the set. In the second set, M. Paulikienė and A. Raupelytė took the initiative into their own hands, quite confidently leveling the score.
At the start of the third set, the Polish volleyball players led more often, but later the Lithuanians won several points in a row, thus taking the lead and calmly finishing the first match with a positive result.
In the group final, M. Paulikienė and A. Raupelytė will play on Thursday against Czech players Katerina Pavelkova and Anna Pavelkova, who defeated the favorites of the duel, Swiss players Anouk Verge Depre and Zoe Verge Depre, 2:0 (21:18, 22:20).
Ieva Dumbauskaitė and Gerda Grudzinskaitė started the championship with a great victory, defeating last year’s European vice-champions, French players Clemence Vieira and Aline Chamereau, 2:0 (22:20, 21:17) in the Group B semifinals.
Lithuanian beach volleyball players had the advantage with energetic play during almost the entire match. In the first set, the Lithuanians led 18:14, but then lost five points in a row. However, later in the dramatic end of the set, the Lithuanian duo finally achieved victory.
The picture was similar in the second set, only this time the Lithuanians played the ending more confidently, leaving no hope for their opponents to even the score.
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In the group final, I. Dumbauskaitė and G. Grudzinskaitė will face Dutch players Katja Stam and Raisa Schoon, two-time European championship medalists. The Netherlands representatives crushed Polish players Patrycja Jundzill and Julia Jaroszczak 2:0 (21:15, 21:7) in the group semifinals.
Ieva Vasiliauskaitė and Erika Kliokmanaitė failed to cause an upset at the start of the European Championship. They lost 0:2 (10:21, 17:21) in the Group C semifinals against Italians Valentina Gottardi and Reka Orsi Toth, who hold the third seed in the European championships.
For third place in the group and the last ticket to the playoffs, the Lithuanians will play on Wednesday against Germans Melanie Paul and Louisa Lippmann, who lost a tough German derby 1:2 (19:21, 22:20, 13:15) to Linda Bock and Lea Sophie Kunst.
The European Beach Volleyball Championship features 32 men’s and 32 women’s teams. The top three teams from each group will advance to the playoffs.
The total prize fund of the championship is 200 thousand euros. The winners will receive 20 thousand euros and the first ticket for the country to the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
