Russian Pairs Finish First and Second at Vilnius Open

Vilnius, Lithuania, May 12, 2013. In an all-Russian final match Olga Motrich/Irina Chaika could eventually edge their compatriots Anna Alova/Anna Markova in straight sets (21-16, 21-17) to win the Vilnius Open, the first stop of this year’s Beach Volleyball tour promoted by the Eastern European Volleyball Zonal Association (EEVZA). The tournament did write history since for the very first time an event held by a Zonal Association distributed FIVB Ranking Points to the participating duos.

Motrich/Chaika had found their way to the final match after edging another Russian pair in the semis, namely Nadezhda Makroguzova/Darya Rudikh, with a speedy 21-11, 21-9. In the other semifinal, Anna Alova/Anna Markova – who had made it to the top four after going through the losers’ bracket – upset the local heroines and 2012 Youth world champions, Monika Povilaityte and Ieva Dumbauskaite, with a straight-set win (21-14, 24-22). The Lithuanian teens – who in 2011 were crowned U18 European champions in Vilnius – got back on track to settle for third place as they cruised past Russia’s Makroguzova/Rudikh in the consolation final (24-22, 21-12).

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