Iquique, Chile – Teams supported by FIVB Volleyball Empowerment demonstrated their strength last week at the CSV South American Beach Volleyball Tour Finals in Iquique, Chile, securing medals in both the men's and women's divisions.
Men's Division: Argentina's Surge and Brazil's Dominance
In the men's competition, Argentina's Nicolás Capogrosso and Tomás Capogrosso impressed by finishing as runners-up. Entering the tournament as the No. 4 seeds, the brothers showcased exceptional skill. They cruised through their two pool play matches and the quarterfinals, securing victories in both. In the semifinals, the Capogrosso brothers defeated the top-seeded Chilean duo of Marco Grimalt and Esteban Grimalt with a convincing 2-0 (21-16, 21-16) victory, earning their spot in the final.
The Beach Volleyball department of the Argentine Volleyball Federation has received 36,000 Swiss Francs in coach support from FIVB Volleyball Empowerment for their men's national team, currently under the guidance of coach Giuliano Mezzagno. This support is believed to have significantly contributed to the Capogrosso brothers' strong performance in the tournament.
Meanwhile, the Brazilian pair of Evandro Oliveira and Arthur Mariano Lanci clinched the men's title, displaying overwhelming dominance. As the No. 2 seeds, they remained undefeated throughout the tournament, winning all five of their matches without dropping a single set. They swept past Chile's Vicente Droguett and Fernando Quintero 2-0 (21-16, 21-14) in the semifinals and defeated the Capogrosso brothers 2-0 (21-19, 21-16) in the final to become the South American champions.
The men's bronze medal went to Chile's Marco Grimalt and Esteban Grimalt, who also received support from FIVB Volleyball Empowerment in the previous tournament. In a fiercely contested bronze medal match, they mounted a comeback against fellow Chilean team Droguett and Quintero, securing a 2-1 (25-27, 21-17, 15-12) victory and earning a valuable medal in front of their enthusiastic home crowd.
Women's Division: Paraguay's Rise and Brazil's Crown
In the women's competition, Paraguay's Michelle Valiente and Giuliana Poletti secured the bronze medal, showcasing the growing strength of Paraguayan beach volleyball. Although they were the No. 1 seeds, they finished second in their pool behind Brazil's Carol Solberg and Rebecca Cavalcanti. However, they advanced to the semifinals with victories in both the Round of 16 and quarterfinals.
The Paraguayan national beach volleyball team has received a total of 252,000 Swiss Francs in coach support from FIVB Volleyball Empowerment and is currently coached by Brazilian Adriano Garrido. Furthermore, the Paraguayan Volleyball Federation has received additional comprehensive support, including 5,000 Swiss Francs for national team coach development and 9,000 Swiss Francs for beach volleyball equipment.
Notably, another Paraguayan pair, the No. 10 seeds Fiorella Núñez and Denisse Álvarez, also made a surprising run to the semifinals in this tournament. They finished second in their pool behind Brazil's Thamela Coradello and Victória Lopes, then won their Round of 16 and quarterfinal matches to reach the final four.
Both women's semifinals were all-Paraguay vs. Brazil matchups. The No. 9 seeded Brazilian team of Carol and Rebecca defeated Fiorella and Denisse 2-0 (21-13, 21-16) to reach the final, while the No. 2 seeded Brazilian team of Thamela and Victória surprisingly beat Michelle and Poletti 2-0 (21-11, 23-21) to advance to the final.
The final was an all-Brazilian affair. Carol and Rebecca emerged victorious, defeating Thamela and Victória 2-1 (21-13, 18-21, 15-8). With this win, Brazil secured gold medals in both the men's and women's divisions, reaffirming their status as the strongest nation in South American beach volleyball. Notably, the women's silver medal also went to Brazil, with Thamela Coradello and Victória Lopes, further highlighting Brazil's dominant performance.
The bronze medal match was an all-Paraguayan showdown. Michelle and Poletti decisively defeated Fiorella and Denisse 2-0 (21-12, 21-12) to claim the bronze medal, opening a new chapter in Paraguayan beach volleyball history. Their performance, having already secured qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics, is expected to further brighten the future of Paraguayan beach volleyball.
The Significance of the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment Program
This tournament once again underscored the crucial importance of the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program. The program provides comprehensive support for the development of volleyball worldwide, including coach support, equipment provision, and talent identification. It is thanks to this continuous support that countries like Argentina and Paraguay, in addition to Brazil, have been able to gain competitiveness on the international stage.
The FIVB plans to expand its support to enable more countries and athletes to realize their dreams through beach volleyball. The Iquique tournament showcased the continued advancement of South American beach volleyball, and it is anticipated that more teams from the region will secure medals in international competitions in the future.
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