1997 Gillette FIVB World Women's Beach Volleyball

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David Martin's picture
Submitted by David Martin on March 18, 1997 - 12:00am

International beach volleyball came to Melbourne on March 12-16, 1997, with the FIVB World Beach Volleyball Tour held at the tennis centre.

International beach volleyball came to Melbourne on March 12-16, 1997. The gold, silver and bronze medallists from the Atlanta Olympics came to play live - yes, a full match without tv advertisement breaks. The world's top 32 teams from nine countries competed for $US120,000 ($25,000 first-place prize money) as 1200 tonnes of sand filled show court one at Melbourne Park.

On the first day's play, the top seven seeded teams went through to the winner's brackets after winning their first two matches (double elimination format being used). The Australians Natalie Cook and Kerrie Pottharst had to fight hard though to come from behind and eventually take their second game 15-13. Not such good news for the other Australian pairings, all of whom lost at least one of their opening day matches.

The top four seeds (Sandra Pires/Jackie Silva (Bra), Shelda Bede/Adriana Bede (Bra), Monica Rodrigues/Adriana Samuel (Bra) and Lisa Arce/Holly McPeak (USA)) as well as Australia's Cook/Pottharst (despite losing a third round match) and Fenwick/Manser (who lost their second round game) were among the 12 teams making it through to Saturday's competition.

Cook and Pottharst lost to Hanley/Fontana (USA) to tie for 7th place, while Fenwick/Manser lost their first game on Saturday to Hanley/Fontana to tie for 9th. That left Poppinga and Rock (USA, 6th seeds) along with the top three seeds to play off in the semi-finals on Sunday. Australia's other teams were, Angela Clarke/Annette Huygens-Tholen finishing equal 13th, Sarah Straton/Christine Wilson equal 17th, plus Janet Schloss/Patricia Virag, Tania Gooley/Alexa Parisotto, Debbie Brand/Paula Lipkiewicz and Danica Barty/Summer Lochowicz all finishing equal 25th.

The final day's play saw top seeds (and 1996 Atlanta gold medalists) Sandra Pires and Jackie Silva defeat Shelda Bede and Adriana Behar in straight sets to convincingly win the $25,000 first-prize.

For further information contact Volleyball Victoria on(03) 9521 4800, or visit the FIVB BeachVolleyball pages at Volleyball Worldwide.

In addition, there was an article in Melbourne's The Agenewspaper on Monday, March 17, about Natalie Cook and Kerrie Pottharstthat can be seen at Sisters of the Sand (for a while anyway).