Lausanne, Switzerland, September 2, 2016 — Glistening gloriously in the amazing accomplishments of another singularly stupendously stellar season, the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) will now see the cream of its astonishing athletes crop descend on Canada for the post-season $500,000 Swatch FIVB World Tour Finals.
The 2016 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour regular season concluded last weekend in the United States in sunny Southern California, now a dozen of the top teams in each gender will be showcased next week in Toronto (Sept. 13-18) and the second annual Swatch FIVB World Tour Finals.
With $100,000 going to each gold medal winning team, the top eight teams in the final points for the 2016 FIVB World Tour plus four wild card tandems in each gender (with a two-team quota per country) will compete in Toronto.
Last week in Long Beach, Calif., USA, saw a team from Brazil capture the men’s gold medal along with a team from the host country USA claim the women’s gold medal at the ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball featuring the $800,000 FIVB Long Beach Grand Slam. It was the 22nd men’s event and 19th women’s event in the 2016 FIVB calendar. It also was the regular season finale of the 2016 FIVB World Tour.
ASICS LONG BEACH MEN
Quieting the rabid raucous crowd, winning the men’s gold medal at the ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball with a perfect 7-0 match record was Brazil’s third-seeded Olympians Pedro Solberg/Evandro Goncalves who stopped USA’s top-seeded Olympians Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena in three sets, 21-19, 17-21 and 15-9 in 62 minutes, It was the 17th career FIVB World Tour gold medal for Brazil’s Pedro and fourth for Evandro.
Earning the bronze medal in Long Beach was Latvia’s second-seeded Aleksandrs Samoilovs/Janis Smedins who won in straight sets over Italy’s surprising 20th-seeded Alex Ranghieri/Marco Caminati, 21-18, 21-19 in 43 minutes.
In the Long Beach men’s semifinals, Brazil’s Pedro/Evandro came from behind to defeat Latvia’s Samoilovs/J. Smedins in three sets, 14-21, 21-14 and 15-11 in 51 minutes and USA’s Dalhausser/Lucena advanced to the gold medal match by defeating Italy’s Ranghieri/Caminati in another three-set match, 21-15, 17-21 and 15-6 in 52 minutes.
Brazil’s Evandro Goncalves, who had a tournament-high eight blocks in the gold medal match, was selected as the men’s most outstanding player of the ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball featuring the FIVB Long Beach Grand Slam.
ASICS LONG BEACH WOMEN
Rejoicing in the rapturous rocking roar of the home country fans, winning the women’s gold medal at the ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball with an unblemished 7-0 match record was USA’s top-seeded Olympians Kerri Walsh Jennings/April Ross who stopped Spain’s seventh-seeded Olympians Liliana Fernandez/Elsa Baquerizo in straight sets by twin scores of 21-16, 21-16 in 50 minutes. It was the 55th career FIVB gold medal for Walsh Jennings and 21st for A. Ross.
Earning the bronze medal in Long Beach by winning the all-German match was Germany’s fifth-seeded Julia Sude/Chantal Laboureur who stopped their 13th-seeded German compatriots Katrin Holtwick/Ilka Semmler in two sets, 21-16, 21-17 in 38 minutes.
To reach the women’s gold medal match in Long Beach, in their respective semifinals, USA’s Walsh Jennings/Ross defeated Germany’s Sude/Laboureur in straight sets, 21-17, 21-16 in 47 minutes while Spain’s Fernandez/Baquerizo advanced by coming from behind to overcome Germany’s Holtwick/Semmler in three sets, 22-24, 21-16 and 15-12 in 53 minutes.
USA’s April Ross was selected as the women’s most outstanding player of the ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball featuring the FIVB Long Beach Grand Slam.
MEN’S POINTS/EARNINGS
After 22 men’s exhaustive events on the 2016 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour regular season, Latvia’s Aleksandrs Samoilovs/Janis Smedins have won their third FIVB World Tour season point championship in the last three years. In the final 2016 regular season standings Latvia’s Samoilovs/J. Smedins have finished the season with 5,910 points in 14 events while USA’s Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena finished second with 5,790 points in just 12 events. Third was Poland’s Piotr Kantor/Bartosz Losiak with 5,240 points, fourth was Italy’s Alex Ranghieri/Adrian Carambula with 5,060 points and fifth was USA’s John Hyden/Tri Bourne with 4,950 points. Sixth was Mexico’s Lombardo Ontiveros/Juan Virgen with 4,910 points while seventh was Brazil’s Pedro Solberg/Evandro Goncalves with 4,690, eighth is USA’s Jake Gibb/Casey Patterson with 4,300 points, ninth was Poland’s Mariusz Prudel/Grzegorz Fijalek wih 4,400 points and 10th was Canada’s Ben Saxton/Chaim Schalk with 4,400 points.
In the final 2016 FIVB World Tour men’s regular season earnings after 22 events, Latvia’s Aleksandrs Samoilovs/Janis Smedins finished on top of the money list with $249,875 in 14 events with three gold medals. Second was USA’s Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena with $231,000 in 12 events with four gold medals, third was Brazil’s Pedro Solberg/Evandro Goncalves with $223,000 in 10 events with two gold medals, fourth was Brazil’s Alison Cerutti/Bruno Oscar Schmidt with $206,000 in just eight events with three gold medals and fifth was Poland’s Piotr Kantor/Bartosz Losiak with $156,750 and one gold medal. Sixth was Netherlands’ Alexander Brouwer/Robert Meeuwsen with $148,375, tied for seventh with $132,375 each were Brazil’s Saymon Barbosa/Gustavo Carvalhaes and Canada’s Ben Saxton/Chaim Schalk, ninth was USA’s Jake Gibb/Casey Patterson with $131,125, and 10th was Spain’s Pablo Herrera/Adrian Gavira with $123,375.
WOMEN’S POINTS/EARNINGS
For the women after 19 regular season events on the 2016 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, Germany’s Ludwig/Walkenhorst won the 2016 season point championship, marking the first time in the history of the FIVB World Tour that it has been won by a team from Germany. Germany’s Ludwig/Walkenhorst, who also won the gold medal at this year’s Rio Olympics, stand on the top rung on the ladder with 5,980 points in only 12 events. Moving up to second with 5,530 was USA’s Kerri Walsh Jennings/April Ross in just 10 events, third with 5,440 was Germany’s Julia Sude/Chantal Labourer while tied for fourth with 4,700 points each were Germany’s Karla Borger/Brita Buthe and Germany’s Katrin Holtwick/Ilka Semmler. Sixth was Brazil’s Talita Antunes/Larissa Franca with 4,820 in 10 events, Seventh with 4,670 points was Spain’s Elsa Baquerizo/Liliana Fernandez, eighth with 4,350 points was Switzerland’s Isabelle Forrer/Anouk Vergé-Dépré and ninth with 4,330 points was Argentina’s Ana Gallay/Georgina Klug.
In the 2016 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour women’s regular season earnings after 19 events, Germany’s Laura Ludwig/Kira Walkenhorst finished in the top spot with $282,375 in earnings in just 12 events with six gold medals while second was USA’s Kerri Walsh Jennings/April Ross with $274,000 in just 10 events with five gold medals, third with $227,000 in just 10 events and two gold medals was Brazil’s Talita Antunes/Larissa Franca, fourth with $171,250 and one gold medal was Germany’s Julia Sude/Chantal Laboureur and fifth with $155,875 was Germany’s Karla Borger/Britta Buthe. Sixth with $145,000 was Spain’s Elsa Baquerizo/Liliana Fernandez, seventh with $127,000 was Canada’s Heather Bansley/Sarah Pavan, eighth with $116,525 was Germany’s Katrin Holtwick/Elka Semmler, ninth was Switzerland’s Joana Heidrich/Nadine Zumkner with $111,150 and 10th with $110,000 was Brazil’s Eduarda Lisboa/Elize Maia.
MEN’S FINAL FOURS
After 22 men’s tournaments on the 2016 FIVB World Tour regular season schedule, 16 countries had at least one final four placement. Leader with 16 final four placements was Brazil (seven gold medals, five silver, two bronze, two fourth place finishes), second with 14 final fours was the United States (four gold medals, four silver medals, three bronze medals, three fourth place finishes). Third with nine final four finishes was Italy (three gold medals, three silver medals, three fourth place finishes), fourth with eight final four placements was Latvia (three gold medals, three bronze medals, two fourth places) and fifth with seven final fours was Poland (one gold medal, four bronze medals, two fourth places).
Tied for sixth with six final four placements each were Germany (one gold medal, two silver medals, one bronze medal, two fourth places), and the Netherlands (one gold medal, two silver medals, three bronze medals) and eighth with five final fours was Russia (two silver medals, one bronze medal, two fourth place finishes). Tied for ninth with three final fours each were Mexico (one silver medal, two bronze medals) and Spain (one gold medal, one bronze medal, one fourth place finish). Tied for 11th with two final fours each were Austria (two silver medals), Canada (one silver medal, one bronze medal), and Chile (two fourth places). Tied for 14th with one final four finish each were France (one fourth place), Greece (one fourth place) and Qatar (one gold medal).
WOMEN’S FINAL FOURS
In 19 women’s FIVB international events to date on the 2016 regular season calendar, 17 countries earned at least one final four finish. Leader in final four placements with 17 was Germany (six gold medals, one silver medal, seven bronze medals, three fourth places) while second with 16 was Brazil (four gold medals, six silver medals, three bronze medals, three fourth place finishes). Third with 11 was the United States (five gold medals, two silver medals, three bronze medals, one fourth place finish), fourth with seven was Switzerland (two gold medals, one silver medal, two bronze medals, two fourth place finishes) and tied for fifth with four final four placements each were Argentina (four fourth place finishes) and the Netherlands (one silver, three fourth place finishes).
Tied for seventh with three final four placements each were Italy (one silver medal, one bronze, one fourth place) and Spain (two silver medals, one bronze medal) and ninth with two final four finishes was Canada (one bronze medal, one silver medal). Tied for 10th with one final four finish each were Austria (one silver medal), Australia (one fourth place), China (one silver medal), Czech Republic (one gold medal), Finland (one silver medal), Poland (one silver medal), Slovak Republic (one bronze medal) and Vanuatu (one fourth place).
MEN’S WINNING PERCENTAGE/MATCH WINS
Based on percentage, statistically, in men’s action after 22 events on the 2016 FIVB World Tour calendar with a minimum of 39 matches played, the leader at 84.4% are USA’s Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena (65-12), second at 84.3% is Brazil’s Alison Cerutti/Bruno Oscar Schmidt (43-8), third at 75.0% is Netherlands’ Alexander Brouwer/Robert Meeuwsen (45-15), fourth at 72.8% is Latvia’s Aleksandrs Samoilovs/Janis Smedins (59-22) and fifth at 72.1% is Brazil’s Gustavo Carvalhaes/Saymon Barbosa (49-19).
Sixth at 71.4% is Brazil’s Pedro Solberg/Evandro Goncalves (40-16), seventh at 70.5% is Spain’s Adrian Gavira/Pablo Herrera (43-18), eighth at 68.4% is Italy’s Paolo Nicolai/Daniele Lupo (39-18), ninth at 67.1% is Poland’s Piotr Kantor/Bartosz Losiak and tied for 10th at 66.7% each are Italy’s Adrian Carambula/Alex Ranghieri (54-27) and Russia’s Konstantin Semenov/Viacheslav Krasilnikov (36-18).
With 65 match wins this season through 23 events on the 2016 FIVB World Tour, leading this category is USA’s Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena (65-12), second with 59 match wins each is Latvia’s Aleksandrs Samoilovs/Janis Smedins (59-22) , third with 57 match wins is Poland’s Piotr Kantor/Bartosz Losiak (57-28), fourth with 54 match wins is Italy’s Adrian Carambula/Alex Ranghieri (54-27), and fifth with 53 match wins is Mexico’s Lombardo Ontiveros/Juan Virgin (53-27). Sixth with 49 match wins is Brazil’s Saymon Santos/Gustavo Carvalhaes (49-19), seventh with 47 match wins is USA’s Tri Bourne/John Hyden (47-34), eighth with 45 match wins is Netherlands’ Alexander Brouwer/Robert Meeuwsen (45-15), ninth with 44 match wins is Latvia’s Martins Plavins/Haralds Regza (44-34) and tied for 10th with 43 wins each are Brazil’s Alison Cerutti/Bruno Oscar Schmidt (43-8), Spain’s Adrian Gavira/Pablo Herrera (43-18) and USA’s Jake Gibb/Casey Patterson (43-24).
WOMEN’S WINNING PERCENTAGE/MATCH WINS
Based on percentage, statistically, in women’s action after 19 events on the 2016 FIVB World Tour calendar with a minimum of 34 matches played, the leader at 89.0% is Germany’s Laura Ludwig/Kira Walkenhorst (65-8), second at 88.7% is USA’s Kerri Walsh Jennings/April Ross (63-8), third at 84.7% is Brazil’s Talita Antunes/Larissa Franca (50-9), fourth at 73.8% is Brazil’s Agatha Bednarczuk/Barbara Seixas (31-11) and fifth at 72.6% is Germany’s Karla Borger/Britta Buthe (53-20).
Sixth at 71.1% is Germany’s Julia Sude/Chantal Laboureur (59-24), seventh at 68.3% is Canada’s Sarah Pavan/Heather Bansley (28-13), eighth at 66.2% is Switzerland’s Joana Heidrich/Nadine Zumkehr (43-22) and ninth at 65.7% is Brazil’s Eduarda Lisboa/Elise Maia (44-23).
For the women in match wins following 19 events on the 2016 FIVB calendar, leader with 65 match wins is Germany’s Laura Ludwig/Kira Walkenhorst (65-8) while second with 63 match wins is USA’s Kerri Walsh Jennings/April Ross (63-8), third with 59 match wins is Germany’s Julia Sude/Chantal Laboureur tandem (59-24), fourth with 53 match wins is Germany’s Karla Borger/Britta Buthe (53-20) and fifth with 52 match wins is Germany’s Katrin Holtwick/Ilka Semmler (52-38).
Sixth with 50 match wins is Brazil’s Talita Antunes/Larissa Franca (50-9), Tied for seventh with 44 match wins each are Brazil’s Eduarda Lisboa/Elize Maia (44-23) and Argentina’s Ana Gallay/Georgina Klug (44-35) and tied for ninth with 43 match wins each are Switzerland’s Joana Heidrich/Nadine Zumkher (43-22) and Spain’s Liliana Fernandez/Elsa Barquerizo.
ON THE HORIZON
Following the regular-season ending ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball at the $800,000 FIVB Long Beach Grand Slam (Aug. 23-28) in the USA, the post-season Swatch FIVB World Tour Finals (Sept. 13-18, Toronto, Canada) will be held. The Swatch FIVB World Tour Finals, with $100,000 going to each winning team, will feature the top eight point leaders in each gender from the current FIVB World Tour plus four wild card teams in each gender.
GROWING HISTORY
The $500,000 Swatch FIVB World Tour Finals in Canada will be the 351st men’s tournament since the FIVB began play in 1987 and the 312th FIVB women’s tournament since their competition started in 1992.
FIVB 2016
Based in Lausanne, Switzerland as the international governing body for the Olympic sports of Beach Volleyball and Volleyball, the 2016 FIVB Beach Volleyball calendar featured a purse of US$8.25 million with a season that extends from last October to this October, competing at 22 venues in 12 countries. The schedule includes four FIVB Grand Slams, four Swatch FIVB Major Series events, 13 FIVB Opens and the special Swatch FIVB World Tour Finals. The showcase event was the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil (Aug. 6-18).
The 2015 portion of the 2016 FIVB World Tour calendar started in October in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and included two more open events prior to the remainder of the schedule resuming at the FIVB Kish Island Open in Iran in February.
FIVB EVENT FORMAT
Implemented in 2013, the format of all the FIVB Beach Volleyball international tournaments – whether FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships, FIVB Beach Volleyball Grand Slam or FIVB Beach Volleyball Open – are the same, featuring pool play followed by single elimination knockout rounds. Country Quota playoffs returned as needed in 2015 to determine the final teams for the qualification tournament.