Semis decided for opening round of 2024/25 Tour
The second day of the 2024/25 Australian Beach Volleyball Tour produced some surprise semi-finalists in the women’s draw while the top four men’s seeds have advanced to the final four.
Today’s results ensures two new pairings will raise the trophy at Glenelg for the first time with none of the eight semi-finalists having ever combined to take out an ABVT round.
Top-ranked men’s team Ben Hood (QLD) and Solomon Bushby (SA) were super impressive, continuing their impressive form which has seen them drop no more than 15 points per set just once in their five matches so far.
They will face Rob Reeves (QLD) and Matt Abela (VIC) in the semis after the veteran combination conceded just 40 points in four sets on Saturday.
The other semi-final sees the ‘Governor of Glenelg’ Chris McHugh (SA) and Perth Steel skipper Daniel Piggott (WA) meet Victorian second seeds Garang Anyang and Justin Schumann.
McHugh and Piggott dropped their only set of the tournament on Friday against Victoria’s Pat Tang and Harrison Byrne who they met in the quarter-finals.
While the less-experienced pair again put up a fight, McHugh and Piggott rode the wave of the local crowd to moved into the final four.
Anyang and Schumann did it toughest in the quarters, facing a stiff fight against reigning national champion Mateusz Zieba (NSW) and Adam Fejes (NSW). The blend of youth and experience took the NSW pair to a set lead, and while the match was then squared up they still looked good to advance up 13-9 in the decider.
With a passionate Victorian crowd in their corner, Anyang and Schumann took a strategic mindset to their serving and forced the match deep, eventually claiming the third 17-15.
The women’s semis will see four undefeated teams do battle but it may not be who everyone expected.
Queenslanders Matisse Conlon and Bec Ingram came into the tournament as the 17th seeds but proceeded to defeat the top-ranked team in pool play and continued their momentum on Saturday.
Conlon and Ingram have still not dropped a set but will face a fired up South Australian outfit keen to do well in front of their friends and family.
Malgorzata Rzepka and Camila Franchi are playing just their second tournament together but they combined like they had been playing together for years to defeat the fourth seeds and have won 10 straight sets over the opening two days.
Victoria’s Anna Donlan and Lucie Sauerova faced each other for Bronze in Cobram earlier this year, the only time either player had reached the final four of an ABVT event. In Glenelg they have combined as the second seeds and enter the final day as favourites.
However if they are to reach their first-ever final they will need to overcome WA’s Kyla Sanchez and Jolie du Plessis.
After dropping a set to the 27th seeds in their opening match on Friday, Sanchez and du Plessis have not taken the foot off the pedal and were impressive in their takedown of third seeds Ruby Vanloo (SA) and Lauren Brasell (QLD) in the quarter-finals.
Super Sunday begins at 8am ACDT with the men’s and women’s semi-finals before the medal rounds start at with the bronze medal matches at 11:30am ACDT and the tournament finals from 2pm ACDT.
The bronze and gold medal matches will be streamed live via SBS On Demand.
2024/25 AUSTRALIAN BEACH VOLLEYBALL TOUR
Round 1 – Glenelg Beach SA
Day 3 – Sunday 10 November (play starts at 8am ACDT)
WOMEN’S SEMI-FINALS
17-Rebecca Ingram/Matisse Conlon v 5-Malgorzata Rzepka/Camila Franchi
6-Kyla Sanchez/Jolie du Plessis/2-Anna Donald/Lucie Šauerová
MEN’S SEMI-FINALS
1-Ben Hood/Solomon Bushby v 4-Rob Reeves/Matt Abela
2-Garang Anyang/Justin Schumann v 3-Chris McHugh/Daniel Piggott
11:30am ACDT Bronze Medal Matches
2:00pm ACDT Gold Medal Matches
