First Day of 'The Ultimate Mashup' in Sold-Out Summer Stadium

Today, in sunny and warm Utrecht, the grand finale of this beach volleyball summer kicked off: Queen & King of the Court 'The Ultimate Mashup'. In a sold-out stadium, a thousand spectators watched various new team combinations battle it out. In three thrilling, time-limited rounds, the first spots for the semifinals were secured. Among the early qualifiers were Dutch players Raisa Schoon and Alexander Brouwer, who earned their semifinal ticket in the first round.

Big Wins in the First Women’s Pool
The evening for the women was marked by dominant performances. Five teams took to the court, with three duos securing direct semifinal spots. In the first round, the Dutch Raisa Schoon, fresh off her recent national championship win, and her Spanish partner Daniela Álvarez quickly pulled ahead, grabbing the first ticket. The following rounds also saw significant gaps between the winners and the other teams. The German/Latvian duo Ittlinger/Samoilova won the second round with a 17-point lead over the runner-up. In the final round, the Czech/Finnish pair Štochlová/Ahtiainen convincingly booked their place in the semifinals. Dutch player Bjorna Gras and her partner Chenoa Christ did not qualify directly and will compete in the playoffs later.

Brouwer and Tocs Impress, Carambula and Mol Advance to Semifinals
Dutchman Alexander Brouwer and his Latvian teammate Tocs quickly fired up the crowd. With a series of spectacular rallies, they claimed victory in the first round and were able to enjoy the enthusiastic crowd from the bench for the remainder of the match. Spectators were captivated by the following two rounds, which featured impressive skyballs from Adrian Carambula. Carambula played alongside Anders Mol, who won Olympic bronze last summer. This duo secured their semifinal spot in the third round, after Tiisaar and Smedins took the win in the second round.

More Action Tomorrow in the Summer Stadium
Tomorrow promises another exciting day in the sold-out summer stadium. Among the athletes set to compete are Dutch stars Robert Meeuwsen, Stefan Boermans, Yorick de Groot, Matthew Immers, Katja Stam, Emi van Driel, and Marly Bak. International top players such as Clemens Wickler, Taliqua Clancy, and Laura Ludwig will also thrill the crowd with spectacular matches.

Photo: Pim Waslander