Swiss star Betschart leads charge to round of 16

Betschart, the only player ever to be an U20 and U22 Beach Volleyball European champion at the same time, and Eiholzer beat the Russian pairing of Yulia Abalakina and Ksenia Dabizha 2-1 (17-21, 21-19, 15-12) for a third consecutive victory.

Betschart was pleasantly surprised to find most of the centre court crowd supporting her during the game. 

"I think it was the (Swiss) Beach Soccer national team. They are practising (before the Baku 2015 Beach Soccer tournament gets underway on 24 June) and have time to support us. It's great when people from your country come to watch," she said.

It is the Swiss pair's first year playing on the International Volleyball Federation's World Tour (FIVB) and despite finishing top of Pool F at Baku 2015, they are keeping their feet firmly on the ground.

"There are three teams in front (of us) in Switzerland and if they play the Grand Slams and Opens then we are not allowed to play as well. So it always depends a little on what they are doing," said Betschart.

"At the moment we can learn from them and it's not our goal to beat them."

This may well change if the two 19-year-olds continue their fine form in Baku. They will resume their campaign on Thursday afternoon, after the teams that finished second and third contest the morning's elimination round.  

The following pairs progressed directly to the round of 16 as pool winners:

Pool A - Ieva Dumbauskaite / Monika Povilaityte (LTU)

Pool B - Laura Giombini / Giulia Toti (ITA)

Pool C - Paula Soria Gutierrez / Angela Lobato Herrero (ESP)

Pool D - Sophie van Gestel / Jantine van der Vlist (NED)

Pool E - Riikka Lehtonen / Taru Lahti (FIN)

Pool F - Nicole Eiholzer / Nina Betschart (SUI)

Pool G - Laura Longuet / Melinda Adelin (FRA)

Pool H - Karolina Rehackova / Eliska Galova (CZE)

 

(baku2015.com)