Women's Category shines at the European Footvolley Championship 2023
The Women's category of the European Footvolley Championship 2023 in Albufeira, Portugal, delivered an exhilarating showcase of elite-level game play and unexpected twists. Three countries had been dominating the EFVL Tour season 2023: Austria with Antonia Missethan & Julia Rauch, Spain with Yosy Silva Vera & Itziar Cid Echevarría and the Netherlands with Evelyn Dobbinga & Emmelie van der Velde. Little did they know a fourth country was going to meddle in their ambitions in these EFVL Finals 2023.
Group A: Austrian dominance
In group A Austria faced Germany, Switzerland and Portugal 2. The German players Nicole Kraus and Lea Storzum, always elegantly fighting each point, only lost their opening game to Austria. The Swiss women Sara Garcia & Lena Stucki, who have been this season’s revelation and whose results propelled them to the 4th place in the EFVL ranking fought hard and made it to the elimination game. Unfortunately we had to say goodbye to Amanda Hollerbach and Rafaela Veiga of Portugal 2. After a 18:14 loss to Switzerland they became last in the group. But they made a great impression and showed the technical skills and passion that is needed to make it onto the elite level.
Group B: Fierce competition, Netherlands victorious
In group B a very focused team Netherlands won all group games. Evelyn and Emmelie won 18:13 to the Spanish powerhouse Yosy and Itzi, a final avant la lettre. The Dutch girls also beat Portugal 1 with Beatriz Sousa and Amanda Leal with 18:13. In the next group game Spain had to stand on its toes to beat these Portuguese newcomers 18:16. In all these battles the young Italian team Nicole Tonetto and Arianna Sanchi was no match to any of the above. Nicole did play at the elite level in Austria before but for Arianna it was a first appearance outside of Italy. Of course it was a great learning experience and an excellent way to join our family. The future looks bright.
Eliminations: Early exits Germany and Switzerland, teams of group B prevail
In the elimination round a slowly warming up Portugal 1 managed to beat an experienced Germany with 18:10 and 18:16. This was a small surprise because the Portuguese ladies appeared out of the blue on the international stage. Anyhow, Amanda and Bea showed a lot of technical skill, speed and power. In the second elimination game Spain beat Switzerland but did not receive any presents or time to relax: 18:10 21:19.
Semi-Final Spectacle
The semi-finals of the Women's category were nothing short of spectacular, featuring intense three-set battles that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
Austria vs Spain
Scores: 18:11, 19:21, 23:21
The showdown between Austria and Spain was a roller-coaster ride of skill and strategy. After an initial lead by Austria, Spain rallied back with exceptional defense and precise attacks. The final set was a nail-biting affair, with Austria securing a hard-fought victory in a thrilling tiebreaker 23-21!
Netherlands vs Portugal 1
Scores: 13:18, 18:9, 13:15
The clash between the Netherlands and Portugal was a true battle of wills. With each team showcasing their strengths, the match was marked by incredible rallies and strategic plays. Not many opponents chose to serve on 2 times European champion Evelyn. Both teams had a lot of support on the stands. But in the end, Portugal's resilience proved to be the deciding factor, securing them a spot in the finals.
Podium Battles
In the battle for third place, the Netherlands faced off against Spain in a hard-fought match. The Netherlands demonstrated their prowess, securing a decisive victory with a score of 18:9, claiming the third spot on the podium.
Austria's Second Title
In the highly anticipated final match, Austria faced a new but formidable opponent in Portugal. The Austrian leading ladies Julia and Antonia, displaying once more exceptional teamwork and relentless determination, managed to secure their second European title with impressive scores of 18:13 and 18:10, showcasing their dominance in the Women's category. Portugal receives its first ever silver medal in the Women’s category.
Unique: EFVL’s women only final
Another premiere in the world of footvolley: Both referees of the final were also women. Referee Emeli Zeiser from Germany and Cátia Alves from Portugal whistled an amazing EFVL Finals. Afterwards all fans agreed the women’s category was nothing short of breathtaking to watch. Congratulations to all women for their hard work to promote footvolley. Keep it up!
