This is beach volleyball. This is the world championship final day. It's time to hand out some hardware.
Our contestants are the teams of Erdmann/Matysik from Germany, Brouwer/Meeuwsen from the Netherlands, and two Brazilian tandems — Ricardo/Alvaro and Emanuel/Alison. I do hate that I've missed out on how they got here (and on a fantastic run from Canada's Saxton/Schalk to reach the quarterfinals as the #40 seed), but it is what it is, and I'm here now, so let's get to it.
Alexander Brouwer/Robert Meeuwsen (NED) vs. Jonathan Erdmann/Kay Matysik (GER)
It was an auspicious beginning of the match for the Dutch. Rough start for Erdmann, as he had trouble siding out. He got aced by Brouwer to put the Dutch up a sideout on 2-0, and then he came up short at the net against Meeuwsen to fall down three for the first time. It was 5-2 at the first side change. Erdmann took back a service point with a block to close his side back to within 7-6. It was 8-6 after two changes. The Dutch team got the point back on the rally ending 10-7, with a nice transition play leading to a kill for Meeuwsen against unguarded sand. The Germans complained that he should have been called for an over-reach, but replays showed it was the right (non-)call. 11-8 was a really nice rally, with both teams showing some nice reflexes to just keep the ball off the sand. Brouwer terminated the rally, and then his partner snuck in a brilliant jump-float serve that landed in for an ace. The Dutch tandem led 13-8 at the technical timeout.
The roll continued after the timeout. A harder serve this time led to a weak pass and hit from the Germans, which itself led to an easy dig from Brouwer. Matysik did dig Brouwer once, but only once. On the second try, Brouwer found the sand to make it 14-8. The taste of blood was in the water. The German boys briefly pulled back a service point, but their opponents quickly got it back, and they expended their timeout trailing 16-10.
It was a shankapotamus for Erdmann on the first rally back, as he tried to redirect the ball away from the block, but got a little too cute in so doing. Rather than angling his shot, he hit it off his forearm (very nearly his "elbow pit") and the ball did not clear the net. Brouwer and Meeuwsen made it to 18-10 when Matysik, playing the net as the serve had gotten the Germans out-of-system, stopped the rally after net-touching. The up ref never called it, but just as well as the ball landed harmlessly on their side. A service error from the German side brought the Dutch to set point at 20-12. They very nearly got it on serve right there, as the serve trickled over the net for a let but just did land out. They called time on 20-13 because why not. Meeuwsen easily got the sideout to claim set 1 21-13.
Set 2 was a little more even to begin with, but you could still kinda feel it trending towards the Dutch team. A solid serve from Meeuwsen had the Germans on their heels, leaving Erdmann with only a crosscourt roll shot that the Dutch big man easily blocked. The next rally was basically the same, and the Germans expended their timeout down 6-3. The timeout successfully iced the server, as Meeuwsen's jump-float did not clear the net this time. On 6-4, Matysik showed a little of the terrific defence that no doubt got the Germans this far, and Erdmann's nice high set gave him all the time he needed to scurry to his feet and claim the service point. Browuer, though, got the service point with an ace to make it 8-5. Sideout after sideout followed to 11-9, when Erdmann took an ace to try to give the Germans a little momentum as the teams headed for their benches at the technical timeout.
Meeuwsen didn't need long to get the service point back, blocking Erdmann to put the Dutch team back ahead three at 14-11. Two rallies later, the Germans had a chance to draw back within one, but Brouwer did an amazing job flying out of nowhere to get the up, and then providing a picture-perfect terminating swing for the kill. It was 15-13 at the fourth side change, whereupon Meeuwsen committed his first unforced error of the match, drilling the net with his swing. Erdmann came up as big as he had all day on the next rally, getting the big block against the taller Meeuwsen and all of a sudden it was 15-all.
The Dutch duo took the next 2-point lead, with the big man Meeuwsen this time turning defence into offence for the kill, on 18-16. On the next rally, Matysik tried to play the ball over on 2, but it landed wide. The teams switched sides on 19-16, and another rough serve reception got the Germans in trouble. Erdmann tried to return a twisty, turny, bass-ackwards free ball (his only hope for a legal return) but it crossed over the net outside the anteanna, giving the Dutch team match point. They sealed it on reception to advance to the gold final.
The victors gave a quick interview after the match. Meeuwsen reflected on the hard work the team had done to reach this point, while Brouwer didn't seem to understand the question that was asked of him. But the crowd still ate it up.
Ricardo Alex Costa Santos/Álvaro Morais Filho (BRA) vs. Alison Cerutti/Emanuel Rego (BRA)
Talk about a match with context. Ricardo and Emanuel formed the greatest beach volleyball partnership in history earlier in their careers, winning this world championship themselves back in 2003 on home sand in Rio de Janeiro (among multitudinous other accomplishments). It was the first of three world championships for Emanuel, while Ricardo has, at best, tastetd silver since then. Ricardo's partner, 22 year old Alvaro, is one of the sport's most exciting rising stars. Ricardo in fact has a son not much younger than Alvaro, and you might say he was something of a father figure to Alvaro, at least as far as learning about the game goes. Alison is five years Alvaro's senior, though still very much a young man compared to Ricardo and Emanuel. I've wondered a little if we might see an Alison/Alvaro pairing sometime in the future. Certainly they have very complementary play styles (both of these duos are pretty much prototype), but I've had my questions about Alison's consistency this season. Might still be he's not entirely over the hand injury that kept him out of the season's first few events, but who could say.
The very first rally of the match was one of those fun, chaotic ones. Emanuel challenged his erstwhile partner with the first serve, and that sort of got everyone out of position. Alvaro terminated the rally with a swing against Emanuel at the net. Emanuel may have forgotten for the moment that Alvaro is left-handed, because his block really didn't cover any possibilities for a left-hander. Ricardo, who is not left-handed, scored one on serve (first service point of the match) with his left to make it 3-1, and then roof'd his counterpart to go up 4-1. It was 5-2 at the side change. An unforced error from Alison then made it 6-2. At 7-4, Alvaro played a serve that looked like it was going to land out, but he got the kill anyway. After an ace for the diminutive lefty, the defending world champions called time.
The first rally back was chaotic, but the team in yellow (that'd be Ricardo/Alvaro) each came up with very nice digs to keep the ball up. The rally terminated with a long hit from Alison. He protested that the ball was in, but it clearly wasn't. After the side change at 10-4, he finally did get the sideout on 10-5. Sideout after sideout then ensued, to the technical timeout at 13-8. Ricardo and Alvaro missed a couple of chances to take a really overwhelming lead, but if you can miss and still be up five, you're in good shape.
Ricardo got the sideout on the first rally after the timeout, though it looked like Alvaro's set was a little dodgy. He added a service point with a block against Alison, and then Alvaro followed with an ace to all but seal set 1 away. Ricardo and Alvaro surged to set point at 20-11. Alison staved off a couple at the net, and then Alvaro gave one away. Alvaro seemed ready to call time there, but Ricardo didn't follow and they stayed on the court. Good move — Alvaro got the sideout on the next ball to finish off the set on 21-14.
The defending champs were slightly more with the program at the beginning of set 2. Ricardo and Alvaro took three of the first four points, just as they did in set 1 (which was already the lead they would not relinquish), but in this second set Emanuel kept them from going ahead three. Serving at 5-4, Alison scored an ace on a tricky let, and gave one of those half-arsed "apologies" to his compatriots. Why even bother? Emanuel added another service point on the next rally to put tem up for the first time in the match at 6-5. Alison't block against Alvaro meant they led by 2 for the first time at 8-6.They led by 3 for the first time at 11-8. Ricardo almost brought his side back within a point in advance of the technical timeout, but his high-arching block landed just out.
Emanuel initially took a service point to put his side up four at 13-9, but the opponents took three straight in response to close within a point. Alison and Emanuel called time with their lead narrowed to 13-12. It was sideout after sideout to the fourth change, with Alison and Emanuel ahead 15-13 on serve, and to the fifth change, as they led 18-17 on reception. That was when the string ended, with Alison bricking the pass on Ricardo's float serve. That eliminated "sideout to victory" from the reigning world champs' playbook, though Alison did sideout to make it 19-18 and prevent the boys in yellow from going ahead again. Moments later, Emanuel sided out to make it 20-19 and give his team the first set point of the 2nd. Alvaro denied the first opportunity with his kill down the line from the right side (so much easier to do when you swing lefty). At 20-all, it was the big man Ricardo venturing wide to keep a ball alive, leading to his former partner shanking one wide to give Ricardo and Alvaro the first match point. And it was also the last — a service ace ended it.
These two also gave a quick interview after the match. Alvaro extolled his partner, saying he's learned a lot in even just their short time together. Ricardo grabbed the mic from the interviewer and simply shouted "MAZURY!" to set the crowd into a frenzy.
Bronze final
This match started (and stayed, for a while) a stalemate. The Brazilians led only 11-10 at the technical timeout. Alison got whistled for a net fault on the first rally after the timeout, bringing the Germans equal for the first time. Then Erdmann found two big blocks to take the lead. An unforced hitting error for Alison made it 14-11, before the reigning world champs sided out. It was 15-13 at the side change. A lift was called against Erdmann on his overhand set at 15-14, bringing the set level again. The next point was mostly pretty similar, except the set was clean and Mattysik found the sand. Alison miss-hit iwde on the rally at 17-16, giving the Germans the late 2-point lead. Two hitting errors for Emanuel brought us to set point at 20-16, and they converted on reception for at 21-17 final.
Set 2 started off as an even exchange of points, too. There were a couple of occasional 2-point leads, but they were always quickly negated, and it was 7-all after two side changes. SIdeout after sideout followed from there to the technical timeout, with Erdmann and Matysik up a scant 11-10. The Germans took the next 2-point lead at 13-11, when Matysik targetted Emanuel with his serve and the legend flubbed it a little. His pass was a little bass-ackwards from the net, meaning Alison didn't really come up with a very good set. On the next point, Emanuel didn't even get a pass off at all, as Matysik notched the ace. Down 14-11, the reigning (no longer defending) world champs called time.
A string of sideouts ensued, favouring the Germans. Alison broke the string on the rally ending 18-17 with a pretty classic block straight up the middle. He netted his next serve, though, keeping the Germans ahead. Alison sided out on 19-18, but despite a pretty poor serve reception and pass, Erdmann was able to beat the block and reach match point, bronze medal point, on 20-18. Erdmann finished it off on the reception opportunity for a 21-19 final, and a small explosion of smoke went off in celebration for the Germans.
The winners were given the opportunity to speak after the match, just as the semifinal winners were earlier in the day. They gave the expected "This is awesome, you guys are cool" speeches, which the crowd ate up. Emanuel was also given the opportunity to speak, likely because this is the last time he'll be on the world championships stage. He spoke to the appropriateness of the venue, believing the Polish fans should see the very best beach volleyball in the world. I was impressed with how well he spoke English, he didn't seem to struggle one bit.
Commentator Rob Hatch said that this right here may just be the end of the road for Emanuel, and if it is, we'll all be the poorer for it. A matchless career.
Gold final
The Dutch team showed some serious class in the early going. Twice, before the first side change, they fought through repeated block touches from Ricardo to eventually take a service point. They led 5-2 at the side change. The Brazilians stayed kept it close, trailing 8-6 at the second change and drawing a point closer when Brouwer's roll shot on that rally failed to clear the net. Meeuwsen got the service point back on 10-7 with a pretty unlikely swing, as he fell backwards (while standing 5 feet off the net anyway). You wouldn't figure a shot ike that would have enough chutzpah to fall in between two defenders (you may not even figure it would clear the net), but that's exactly what it did. On the last rally before the technical timeout, the up ref overruled one of his flaggers to rule a ball in when the flagger called it out. The result was point Netherlands, and they led 12-9.
The next service point when to the Brazilians, at 14-13. After his partner made a flying dig, it was clear that he would not be able to scamper to his feet in time to answer a set. So Ricardo sent it over on 2, finding the sand. Another crazy dig from the Brazilian defenceman set up the equaliser, and the crowd roared. The Dutch tandem called time upon the fourth side change, at 14-all. After a string of sideouts, Meeuwsen's big block on 18-16 was the play that afforded them the next 2-point lead. Again Brazil equalised, their big man also putting up the block, but the Dutch team added two again there to reach set point at 20-18. And they came up with a little luck at just the right time, with a tricky little let-serve ace ending matters in set 1.
The beginning of the second set trended like the end of the first, with the teams trading little mini-runs. On 4-all, Ricardo got away with a block touch at the net on a ball that flew wide. It went uncalled, for point Brazil. It was 7-7 at the second side change. Another let-serve ace for Meeuwsen extended the Dutch duo to 9-7, but Ricardo got the service point back on 9-all. It was a little dodgy, though, as it looked like he perhaps should have been called for an overreach. The Dutch pair led by a scant 11-10 at the technical timeout.
They quickly re-acquired their sideout advantage, and then some. Meeuwsen scored another ace to go up 12-10, one which Alvaro evidently thought was going to sail wide. The net was the Dutch team's third partner again on the next serve, with Meeuwsen picking up yet another let-ace. When the deficit reached four at 14-10, the Brazilians called time.
They employed a small change in strategy coming back, as they took to different sides of the court, perhaps trying to catch Meeuwsen unawares at the service line. It didn't have that effect, as he kept serving Alvaro — on the opposite side this time — and extended the lead to 15-10 before the Brazilians could finally sideout. It was 16-12 after four changes, and the Dutch boys had to smell the blood in the water. They added a service point here, a service point there, and all of a sudden they had world championship point on 20-14. Ricardo staved off the reception attempt — the easy part — and the Dutch team called time.
20-15 was then a ridiculous rally!
Dig after dig on both sides. It ended as Ricardo had to jet to the baseline, leaving Alvaro alone to block. And one of the smallest men on tour was equal to the task, keeping the Brazil team alive. It wasn't for long, though — Brouwer put away gold medal point on the next try, givng the Netherlands their first beach volleyball world championship.
Both teams spoke after the match. The Dutch duo were understandably a bit stunned by what they had just achieved. Meeuwsen said the first time he believed they could win the championship was after the last ball fell on match point. Alvaro looked to the future, but Ricardo probably doesn't have that luxury. He was visibly overcome with emotion, and briefly spoke in Portuguese thanking the crowd and expressing his hope to be back (back at this venue, I believe, not necessarily the world championships).
A nice awards presentation followed, complete with a page lifted from the Olympics playbook, as a ceremonial FIVB flag was passed over from a representative of Polish volleyball to a representative from the Netherlands — Brouwer and Meeuwsen will, presuming they're both healthy at the time, defend their title on home sand in two years' time (because nobody breaks up before the Olympics). A team of two very young men (Meeuwsen is 25, Brouwer turns 24 later this year), they may only just hit their stride in two or three years' time. And that is a scary thought indeed.
Full Day Two results
Semifinals
Brouwer/Meeuwsen (NED) d. Erdmann/Matysik (GER) (21-13, 21-17)
Ricardo/Álvaro Filho (BRA) d. Alison/Emanuel (BRA) (21-14, 22-20)
Bronze final
Erdmann/Matysik d. Alison/Emanuel (21-17, 21-19)
Gold final
Brouwer/Meeuwsen d. Ricardo/Álvaro Filho (21-18, 21-16)
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