Dutch take first victory at the Red Bull Beach Arena
11.08.2021 - Vienna, Austria
Share
It finally started! Beach volleyball is back in Vienna and it looks as glorious as ever. On the first match of the A1 CEV EuroBeachVolley 2021 presented by Swatch at the Red Bull Beach Arena, experienced Dutch women Sanne Keizer and Madelein Meppelink met the young Austrian team of 22-year-old Eva Pfeffer and 23-year-old Franziska Friedl.
In the end, experience prevailed and the Dutch took their first win at the EuroBeachVolley in Vienna. They proved that after the Tokyo Olympics, which did not go that well for them, they still have the enthusiasm and energy and want to take the medal in Vienna and fight for the third continental title of their careers.
Their 2-0 (21-18, 21-13) win made the Austrians fans clap even though the home team didn’t win. But Pfeffer and Friedl were far from disappointed.
“This was an amazing feeling,” Friedl said. “We have our families and friends who cheered us so it was really huge for us.”
For them, this tournament is probably the most important one they have ever played and as they say – it is truly amazing. They might have lost their opening match but the smiles on their faces didn't go away.
“In the first set I think we annoyed the Dutch team a lot but not so much in the second set”, added Friedl.
The Dutch are through the elimination round with the opening match win and will now face Germans Victoria Bieneck and Isabel Schneider for the top spot on Pool F. For the Austrians, only a victory over Greeks Vasiliki Arvaniti and Penny Karagkouni will be enough to keep them alive in the second day of competition for the women in Vienna.
