Following a remarkable performance last week where the Swiss men`s teams swept all three medals, the spotlight at Geneva`s La Rotonde du Mont-Blanc now shifts to the women. Switzerland is setting its sights high, hoping to replicate this unprecedented success at the upcoming Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures event.
From Thursday to Sunday, the lakefront venue will host 27 female duos from 14 different countries, all competing for glory and crucial international ranking points. The host nation, Switzerland, fields a substantial contingent with eight teams, four of whom are seeded directly into the main draw, bypassing Thursday`s qualification battles. This strong home presence underscores their ambition for the week.
Beyond the numerous Swiss entries (including Menia Bentele/Annique Niederhauser, Muriel Bossart/Nadine Demierre, Linda Abbühl/Livia Stolz, and Zoé Flückiger/Jasmine Wandeler in the main draw), the tournament features significant representation from the United States (5 teams), Canada (2 teams), and Germany (2 teams). Single teams from Argentina, Australia, Czechia, France, Hungary, Lithuania, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden complete the diverse international lineup.
Replicating a podium sweep, however, is no simple task—even on home sand. Standing as formidable challengers are teams like Lithuania`s Ieva Dumbauskaite and Gerda Grudzinskaite. As the top seeds, their record of two medals in Futures events this year makes them a clear threat to the Swiss aspirations. Additionally, the Dutch pair of Mexime Van Driel and Kirsten Bröring, competing together for the very first time, arrive in Geneva with the potential to surprise.
The tournament unfolds with the qualifier on Thursday, where 15 teams will battle for the final four spots in the main draw. Friday features pool play, setting the stage for the knockout rounds. Saturday will be a busy day with the Round of 12 and quarterfinals determining the semi-finalists. The event culminates on Sunday with the semifinal matches and the highly anticipated medal contests.
These European Futures events, a joint effort by CEV and Volleyball World, are vital platforms, offering emerging teams valuable experience and points on the international circuit. For Switzerland, this week in Geneva represents a golden opportunity not just to compete, but potentially to write another remarkable chapter in their beach volleyball history.
Torin Vale