Czech favourites Perušic and Schweiner without a lost set in Prague semifinals

On Saturday, Ondrej Perušic and David Schweiner easily advanced to the semi-finals of the 2-Star World Tour event in Prague. Michala Kvapilova and Michaela Kubícková have to be content with fifth place on home turf. On the other hand, Barbora Hermannova and Daniela Resova as well as Martina Williams and Marie-Sara Štochlova finished further below in ninth place. The stands of the Beach Club Ladvi were packed up to the last seat and the spectators created a sensational backdrop on Saturday in the Czech capital.

Schweiner (CZE) in the block against Pokeršnik J. (SLO). Photo Credit: CEV.

The fans were well prepared for Saturday’s matches, showing their loud support not only when things went well, but also during the moments where the home sides struggled. Home stars Ondrej Perušic and David Schweiner continue to play the role of favourites and easily defeated the Dutchmen Ruben Penninga and Matthew Immers. “Even so, there were still mistakes in the game, which we must avoid tomorrow or they can come back to haunt us,” Perušic remained critical after the victory.

Tomorrow the Czech pair will face the rising youngsters from Sweden, David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig.

“The Swedes are very specific, for example, with their jump sets, combinations after a reception or a picked ball. We have to push them with our serve so that they have to play more of a ‘standard’ beach volleyball.”

Schweiner described the semi-final opponents.

Only Michala Kvapilova and Michaela Kubícková advanced to the quarter-finals from the women’s play-offs, first beating the New Zealanders Alice Ziemann/Shaunna Marie Polley without any problems, before losing to the Swiss tandem Zoe Vergé-Dépré and Esmée Böbner. “At the moment I am disappointed with this match, which we could not bring to a happy end. But overall I am satisfied,” Kvapilova evaluated her performance at the tournament.

Barbora Hermannová/Daniela Resova and Martina Williams/Maria-Sara Štochlova finished the competition in ninth place. Both pairs were quite upset about the defeat, but each for a different reason. Hermannová admitted that she and her teammate did not feel in a good game mood, while Martina Williams sounded upset by a very close loss in the tie-break.

The competition in Prague reaches its climax today with the semis and medal matches.

Schedule & Results
Main Draw
Semifinals:
12:30 Perusic/Schweiner (CZE) – Åhman/Hellvig (SWE)

Quarterfinals:
Böbner/Vergé-Dépré, Z. (SUI) – Kvapilova/Kubickova (CZE) 2-1 (21-19, 19-21, 15-10)

Round of 12:
Pokeršnik, J./Zemljak (SLO) – Bergmann/Harms, Y. (GER) 1-2 (21-15, 18-21, 9-15)
Zeimann/Polley (NZL) – Kvapilova/Kubickova (CZE) 0-2 (13-21, 15-21)
Vitoria/Andressa (BRA) – Williams/Stochlova (CZE) 2-1 (21-16, 19-21, 15-13)
Parkkinen/Lahti (FIN) – Hermannova/Resova (CZE) 2-0 (21-11, 21-14)

Pool Play:
Sepka/Semerad (CZE) – Bergmann/Harms, Y. (GER) 0-2 (11-21, 17-21)
Knobloch/Kittel (CZE) – Métral/Haussener (SUI) 0-2 (27-29, 13-21)
Oliva/Dzavoronok (CZE) – Penninga/Immers (NED) 1-2 (21-13, 13-21, 16-18)
Perusic/Schweiner (CZE) – Pokeršnik, J./Zemljak (SLO) 2-0 (21-17, 21-18)Kvapilova/Kubickova (CZE) – Dumbauskaite/Grudzinskaite (LTU) 2-0 (21-18, 21-12)
Böbner/Vergé-Dépré, Z. (SUI) – Williams/Stochlova (CZE) 2-1 (21-13, 19-21, 15-10)
Hermannova/Resova (CZE) – Davidova/Lunina (UKR) 0-2 (18-21, 18-21)
Kulhankova/Pospisilova (CZE) – Parkkinen/Lahti (FIN) 1-2 (21-13, 12-21, 10-15)
Nõlvak/Tiisaar (EST) – Knobloch/Kittel (CZE) 2-0 (21-12, 21-16)
Perusic/Schweiner (CZE) – Vasiljev/Juchnevic (LTU) 2-0 (21-16, 21-18)
Abell/Brinck (DEN) -Pokeršnik, J./Zemljak (SLO) 0-2 (19-21, 17-21)
Walkenhorst/Winter (GER) – Oliva/Dzavoronok (CZE) 2-1 (21-16, 16-21, 15-7)
Åhman/Hellvig (SWE) – Sepka/Semerad (CZE) 2-0 (21-17, 21-18)
Kvapilova/Kubickova (CZE) – Elize Maia/Thamela (BRA) 1-2 (21-13, 15-21, 12-15)
Williams/Stochlova (CZE) – Ceynowa/Lodej (POL) 2-0 (21-12, 21-10)
Hermannova/Resova (CZE) – Gruszczynska/Legieta (POL) 2-1 (18-21, 21-17, 15-8)
Megan/Nicole (CAN) – Kulhankova/Pospisilova (CZE) 2-0 (21-15, 21-16)

Qualification
Brinkova/Siruckova (CZE) – Elize Maia/Thamela (BRA) 0-2 (13-21, 13-21)
Abell/Brinck (DEN) – Fabikovic/Struska (CZE) 2-0 (21-18, 21-17)
Kufa, R./Waber (CZE) – Brozyniak/Janiak (POL) 1-2 (18-21, 22-20, 13-15)