The international beach volleyball tournament Vzajemna Portorož Open 2017 concluded successfully yesterday in Portorož with the evening finals. Four Slovenian pairs reached the closing stage of the competition. The current national champions Tjaša Jančar and Tjaša Kotnik played best among them and took fourth place. The Poles Gromadowska and Kociolek won the women’s tournament, while in the men’s tournament the Czechs Perušič and Schweiner outplayed all their rivals.
The tournament
On three courts on the central Portorož beach and two courts at Marina Portorož, competitors from Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Italy, Austria, Poland, Croatia, Slovakia, Hungary and Israel competed in the qualifications and the main draw, which ran from Thursday, 17 August, to Saturday, 19 August.
Fortunately, the poor weather forecast for Saturday and the warnings of strong storms with heavy rain and wind did not materialize. The organizers successfully carried out the second edition of Vzajemna Open Portorož 2017, held under the auspices of MEVZA and organized by Volley Club Portorož in cooperation with the Slovenian Volleyball Federation. A few showers refreshed the players during Saturday, while the men’s final was lit up by lightning from an approaching storm.
Slovenian pairs
Seven Slovenian pairs took part in the main draw. In the women’s competition: Tjaša Jančar and Tjaša Kotnik, national champions from the end of July; Špela Morgan and Tajda Lovšin, third at this year’s national championship; Ana Skarlovnik and Jelena Pešič; and Nina Kontrec and Mojca Pene, who earned their place through Thursday’s qualifications.
In the men’s main draw, spectators watched the current national champions Danijel Pokeršnik and Tadej Boženk, the promising home players Aleksander Dulai and Manuel Grünwald, and the national runners-up Jernej Potočnik and Vid Jakopin, who came through the qualifications.
Women
After Friday’s start, four Slovenian pairs reached the closing stage. The first to concede to stronger opponents on Saturday, the eventual bronze medalists, were Špela Morgan and Tajda Lovšin, who finished seventh.
The only Slovenian men to reach Saturday, Danijel Pokeršnik and Tadej Boženk, and the women’s pair Ana Skarlovnik and Jelena Pešič reached the quarterfinals and finished fifth.
Tjaša Jančar and Tjaša Kotnik, who had the loudest support from the stands, reached the semifinal. To the fans’ disappointment they narrowly lost their last two matches. In the semifinal the Slovaks Strbova and Dubovcova, the eventual silver medalists, won 2:1 (21:17, 15:21, 15:12). In the bronze-medal match the Czechs Dostalova and Rehackova won 2:1 (21:19, 15:21, 17:15), so the Slovenians finished fourth.
In the final, Strbova and Dubovcova faced Gromadowska and Kociolek, 1:2 (11:21, 21:18, 13:15). The Poles won the tournament.
Men
On Friday, in the third round, spectators already saw beach volleyball that hinted at the finish. In the final the Italians Rossi and Caminati met the Czechs Perušič and Schweiner again. The Czechs needed only two sets, 2:0 (21:17, 21:19), to take gold at the second Vzajemna Open Portorož 2017.
In the bronze-medal match the Austrians Schnetzer and Eglseer won 2:0 (24:22, 24:22). The Czechs Lenc and Mysliveček finished fourth.
Thanks
For the organizers and the players this was another fine tournament in Portorož, with excellent beach volleyball and a large crowd. Players are happy to return. This year’s extra were the two courts at Marina Portorož, to which the organizers ferried players by boat. Great thanks go to the referees, volunteers, supporters and organizers.
Results and photos
All results: cev.lu/beach/portoroz
