It was a golden birthday celebration for Talita Antunes at the FIVB Olsztyn Grand Slam on Saturday, as she teamed with partner Larissa Franca won their fifth tournament of the 2015 FIVB Beach Volleyball season on her 34th birthday.
The Brazilians defeated the Dutch team of Marleen van Iersel and Madelein Meppelink 2-0 (21-12, 21-16). It was a repeat of the Moscow Grand Slam final from earlier this season.
“She has given me a wonderful gift,” Talita said. “It was a beautiful match and we played so well and with our heart. I’m so happy with this present.”
“The Dutch are a tough team and they always fight hard in their games,” Larissa said. “Today I think me and Talita stuck together well. It has been a long season and today was a special day for us because we have now won five this season.”
In addition to this win in Olzstyn, and the victory in Moscow, Talita and Larissa won the Long Beach Grand Slam, and the Porec and Gstaad Major Series tournaments. They are now headed to Rio de Janiero for the Rio Open, a test event for next year’s Olympics.
“We are going home after a long season and it will be beautiful to play in Rio,” Talita said. “One year before Rio 2016, we want to be there.”
Despite all the victories this season, a spot in the Rio Olympics is not assured. Brazil has three teams who are amongst the best in the world, but only two can be entered in the Olympic tournament. Talita and Larissa will battle with world champions Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas and former partners Juliana Felisberta and Maria Antonelli for the two places.
Earlier in the day, Poland’s Kinga Kolosinska and Monika Brzostek delighted the Olsztyn centre court crowd when they won their first ever World Tour medals with bronze.
The two 23-year-olds defeated Dutch qualifiers Sophie van Gestel and Jantine van der Vlist 2-0 (21-12, 21-16) to serve notice of their potential.
Main Photo via FIVB.
