Larnaka, Cyprus, June 9, 2019. Finland and Ukraine were the eventual winners of the men’s and women’s competition at the CEV Beach Volleyball Continental Cup – Pool H event held this weekend in Larnaka. Cyprus caused a real sensation as they finished the women’s tournament in second place to progress to the next stage of the competition – just as France did in the men’s event.
If Ukraine were the obvious favourites of the women’s competition, Cyprus achieved a historic result with their second place. On Saturday, Cyprus lost the first-place match to Ukraine but resumed their campaign on Sunday playing Moldova for second place and a ticket to the next round. Mariota Angelopoulou and Zoi Konstantopoulou opened proceedings with a 2-0 victory over Natalia Andrianova and Ecaterina Arabadji.
The next match was even more dramatic, as Daria Gusarova and Erika Zempyla needed three sets to edge Polina Voleanin and Maria Idjilov 21-13, 18-21, 15-8, much to the delight of a full house at Finikoudes Beach. Gusarova and Zempyla comfortably won the first set before their rivals responded to call for a tiebreak. The Cypriot players eventually stormed to a 15-8 win to secure second place for their country and a spot in the next round of the Continental Cup due to take place in May 2020.