Διεθνείς από τη Βενεζουέλα για την ΑΕΚ

Με δύο διεθνείς από τη Βενεζουέλα θα θωρακίσει το ρόστερ της ΑΕΚ. Ο λόγος για τον 26χρονο κεντρικό Φρέντι Θεντένιο (ύψος 2,05μ., Νο18) και ο 27χρονο διαγώνιο Κάρλος Τεχέδα (ύψος 1,98μ.) έχουν συμφωνήσει σε όλα με το «κιτρινόμαυρο» ΤΑΑ.

Για να ολοκληρωθεί βέβαια η μεταγραφή τόσο του 26χρονου κεντρικού, όσο και του 27χρονου διαγώνιου, θα χρειαστεί να δοθεί σ' αυτούς ένα σεβαστό ποσό ως προκαταβολή, κάτι που πρόκειται να έχει συμβεί εντός των προσεχών ημερών.
Κοντά στην απόκτηση του Δημήτρη Κόζη (ύψος 1,89μ.) βρίσκεται ο «Δικέφαλος».

Διεθνείς από τη Βενεζουέλα για την ΑΕΚ

Με δύο διεθνείς από τη Βενεζουέλα θα θωρακίσει το ρόστερ της ΑΕΚ. Ο λόγος για τον 26χρονο κεντρικό Φρέντι Θεντένιο (ύψος 2,05μ., Νο18) και ο 27χρονο διαγώνιο Κάρλος Τεχέδα (ύψος 1,98μ.) έχουν συμφωνήσει σε όλα με το «κιτρινόμαυρο» ΤΑΑ.

Για να ολοκληρωθεί βέβαια η μεταγραφή τόσο του 26χρονου κεντρικού, όσο και του 27χρονου διαγώνιου, θα χρειαστεί να δοθεί σ' αυτούς ένα σεβαστό ποσό ως προκαταβολή, κάτι που πρόκειται να έχει συμβεί εντός των προσεχών ημερών.
Κοντά στην απόκτηση του Δημήτρη Κόζη (ύψος 1,89μ.) βρίσκεται ο «Δικέφαλος».

Διεθνείς από τη Βενεζουέλα για την ΑΕΚ

Με δύο διεθνείς από τη Βενεζουέλα θα θωρακίσει το ρόστερ της ΑΕΚ. Ο λόγος για τον 26χρονο κεντρικό Φρέντι Θεντένιο (ύψος 2,05μ., Νο18) και ο 27χρονο διαγώνιο Κάρλος Τεχέδα (ύψος 1,98μ.) έχουν συμφωνήσει σε όλα με το «κιτρινόμαυρο» ΤΑΑ.

Για να ολοκληρωθεί βέβαια η μεταγραφή τόσο του 26χρονου κεντρικού, όσο και του 27χρονου διαγώνιου, θα χρειαστεί να δοθεί σ' αυτούς ένα σεβαστό ποσό ως προκαταβολή, κάτι που πρόκειται να έχει συμβεί εντός των προσεχών ημερών.
Κοντά στην απόκτηση του Δημήτρη Κόζη (ύψος 1,89μ.) βρίσκεται ο «Δικέφαλος».

Μεταγραφές για άνοδο

Εναν έμπειρο ξένο ή κοινοτικό ακραίο ψάχνει η Ορεστιάδα με στόχο την επιστροφή στα σαλόνια της Α1. Η ακριτική ομάδα, που κράτησε στο ρόστερ της τους Ηλία Γραμματικόπουλο, Στέλιο Κεμανετζή, Τάσο Νταντή και έφερε πίσω τον Μανώλη Παρασκευαϊδη, έχει στα υπόψη της έναν Βούλγαρο ακραίο, που είχε δοκιμαστεί παλιότερα, αλλά δεν είχε αποκτηθεί. Παρά το προχωρημένο της ηλικίας του (33 ετών) μπορεί να κάνει τη διαφορά στην Α2 και η ομάδα αναμένεται να στηθεί γύρω από αυτόν. Εξάλλου, σε διαπραγματεύσεις με την Ορεστιάδα βρίσκεται ο λίμπερο Δημήτρης Βλασακίδης (σκέφτεται αν θα μείνει στον Εθνικό Αλεξανδρούπολης), ενώ υπάρχει η εναλλακτική του Δημήτρη Νεράντζη που μπορεί να παίξει σε αυτή τη θέση, έχοντας μάθει τα «μυστικά» από τη θητεία στο μπιτς βόλεϊ.

Μεταγραφές για άνοδο

Εναν έμπειρο ξένο ή κοινοτικό ακραίο ψάχνει η Ορεστιάδα με στόχο την επιστροφή στα σαλόνια της Α1. Η ακριτική ομάδα, που κράτησε στο ρόστερ της τους Ηλία Γραμματικόπουλο, Στέλιο Κεμανετζή, Τάσο Νταντή και έφερε πίσω τον Μανώλη Παρασκευαϊδη, έχει στα υπόψη της έναν Βούλγαρο ακραίο, που είχε δοκιμαστεί παλιότερα, αλλά δεν είχε αποκτηθεί. Παρά το προχωρημένο της ηλικίας του (33 ετών) μπορεί να κάνει τη διαφορά στην Α2 και η ομάδα αναμένεται να στηθεί γύρω από αυτόν. Εξάλλου, σε διαπραγματεύσεις με την Ορεστιάδα βρίσκεται ο λίμπερο Δημήτρης Βλασακίδης (σκέφτεται αν θα μείνει στον Εθνικό Αλεξανδρούπολης), ενώ υπάρχει η εναλλακτική του Δημήτρη Νεράντζη που μπορεί να παίξει σε αυτή τη θέση, έχοντας μάθει τα «μυστικά» από τη θητεία στο μπιτς βόλεϊ.

Μεταγραφές για άνοδο

Εναν έμπειρο ξένο ή κοινοτικό ακραίο ψάχνει η Ορεστιάδα με στόχο την επιστροφή στα σαλόνια της Α1. Η ακριτική ομάδα, που κράτησε στο ρόστερ της τους Ηλία Γραμματικόπουλο, Στέλιο Κεμανετζή, Τάσο Νταντή και έφερε πίσω τον Μανώλη Παρασκευαϊδη, έχει στα υπόψη της έναν Βούλγαρο ακραίο, που είχε δοκιμαστεί παλιότερα, αλλά δεν είχε αποκτηθεί. Παρά το προχωρημένο της ηλικίας του (33 ετών) μπορεί να κάνει τη διαφορά στην Α2 και η ομάδα αναμένεται να στηθεί γύρω από αυτόν. Εξάλλου, σε διαπραγματεύσεις με την Ορεστιάδα βρίσκεται ο λίμπερο Δημήτρης Βλασακίδης (σκέφτεται αν θα μείνει στον Εθνικό Αλεξανδρούπολης), ενώ υπάρχει η εναλλακτική του Δημήτρη Νεράντζη που μπορεί να παίξει σε αυτή τη θέση, έχοντας μάθει τα «μυστικά» από τη θητεία στο μπιτς βόλεϊ.

RUSSIAN KOLODINSKY/BARSOUK WIN SILVER IN GSTAAD

Gstaad, Switzerland, July 29, 2007. Dalhausser/Rogers joined compatriots Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh as USA gold medal winners this weekend by defeating Dmitri Barsouk and Igor Kolodinsky of Russia in the SWATCH-FIVB World Championships in Gstaad (SUI). Aussie men Andrew Schacht and Joshua Slack net bronze medal. In the women’s competition, May-Treanor/Walsh claimed their third-straight World Championships gold medals, winning their 22nd-straight international match with a 2:0-victory over Jia Tian and Jie Wang of China. The best European women's teams, Claasen-Röder and Pohl-Rau from Germany, finished 5th.

After eliminating reigning Olympic champions Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos of Brazil in the morning’s first semi-final match, Dalhausser and Rogers claimed gold, beating the European top team Dmitri Barsouk and Igor Kolodinsky of Russia 21-16 and 21-14 in the 45-minute finale. In addition to sharing the US$60,000 first-place prize in the $1-million “Beach Volleyball Bash” in the Swiss Alps, Dalhausser and Rogers will benefit from the 1,000 points towards qualifying for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. A tandem’s best eight finishes on the FIVB World Tour through July 20, 2008 will count towards qualifying for the 24-team field. “This weekend was about Beach Volleyball, but not just about Beach Volleyball,” said the 33-year Rogers, who was named the most outstanding player for the SWATCH-FIVB World Championships. “For me, these experiences are what I will remember. It not only is the competition, but it is about the fans in the stands, the beautiful surroundings and the overall atmosphere of good feelings generated this weekend.” Kolodinsky and Barsouk become the most successful Russian Beach Volleyball team since the start of the FIVB World Tour in 1987 by winning the silver medals of the 2007 FIVB Championships. Russia had only one bronze medal and two “final four” finishes in the first 20 years of the international circuit as Kolodinsky and Barsouk were playing in their sixth semi-final this season with bronze medal finishes in Italy, Croatia and last week in Marseille.

Andrew Schacht and Joshua Slack ended Brazil’s run of men’s medals at the SWATCH-FIVB World Championships as the Australians upset top-ranked Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos here Sunday afternoon before a jammed-packed crowd of 9,000 Beach Volleyball fans for the bronze medal match. With their 21-17 and 21-19 win in 42 minutes, Schacht and Slack also became the first Australian men’s team to medal at the world championships as the Athens 2004 Olympians collected their biggest payday on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour with US$35,000 for the third-place finish.

As Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh stood atop an international Beach Volleyball podium with their third-straight SWATCH-FIVB World Championships gold medals around their neck, one only wonders if America’s most successful team ever can maintain their level of play through next summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing. In becoming the first men’s or women’s team to win three-straight world titles since the start of the FIVB championships in 1997, May-Treanor and Walsh won a pair of “final four” matches over teams from China at the 2007 SWATCH-FIVB World Championships to share the US$60,000 first-place prize in the $1-million “Beach Bash” in the Swiss Alps. Larissa/Juliana (BRA) took bronze with a tiebreak-victory over Xue-Zhang Xi (CHN).

The German teams of Helke Claasen/Antje Roder and Stephanie Pohl/Okka Rau finished 5th, losing their quarter-final matches against the two top-seeded teams Larissa/Juliana and May-Treanor/Walsh. Claasen and Roder gained a spot in the “elite eight” by defeating German compatriots Rieke Brink-Abeler and Hella Jurich 16-21, 31-29 and 16-14. Pohl and Rau secured their quarter-final qualification by defeating Talita Antunes and Renata Ribeiro with a 21-19 and 21-15 victory.

RUSSIAN KOLODINSKY/BARSOUK WIN SILVER IN GSTAAD

Gstaad, Switzerland, July 29, 2007. Dalhausser/Rogers joined compatriots Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh as USA gold medal winners this weekend by defeating Dmitri Barsouk and Igor Kolodinsky of Russia in the SWATCH-FIVB World Championships in Gstaad (SUI). Aussie men Andrew Schacht and Joshua Slack net bronze medal. In the women’s competition, May-Treanor/Walsh claimed their third-straight World Championships gold medals, winning their 22nd-straight international match with a 2:0-victory over Jia Tian and Jie Wang of China. The best European women's teams, Claasen-Röder and Pohl-Rau from Germany, finished 5th.

After eliminating reigning Olympic champions Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos of Brazil in the morning’s first semi-final match, Dalhausser and Rogers claimed gold, beating the European top team Dmitri Barsouk and Igor Kolodinsky of Russia 21-16 and 21-14 in the 45-minute finale. In addition to sharing the US$60,000 first-place prize in the $1-million “Beach Volleyball Bash” in the Swiss Alps, Dalhausser and Rogers will benefit from the 1,000 points towards qualifying for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. A tandem’s best eight finishes on the FIVB World Tour through July 20, 2008 will count towards qualifying for the 24-team field. “This weekend was about Beach Volleyball, but not just about Beach Volleyball,” said the 33-year Rogers, who was named the most outstanding player for the SWATCH-FIVB World Championships. “For me, these experiences are what I will remember. It not only is the competition, but it is about the fans in the stands, the beautiful surroundings and the overall atmosphere of good feelings generated this weekend.” Kolodinsky and Barsouk become the most successful Russian Beach Volleyball team since the start of the FIVB World Tour in 1987 by winning the silver medals of the 2007 FIVB Championships. Russia had only one bronze medal and two “final four” finishes in the first 20 years of the international circuit as Kolodinsky and Barsouk were playing in their sixth semi-final this season with bronze medal finishes in Italy, Croatia and last week in Marseille.

Andrew Schacht and Joshua Slack ended Brazil’s run of men’s medals at the SWATCH-FIVB World Championships as the Australians upset top-ranked Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos here Sunday afternoon before a jammed-packed crowd of 9,000 Beach Volleyball fans for the bronze medal match. With their 21-17 and 21-19 win in 42 minutes, Schacht and Slack also became the first Australian men’s team to medal at the world championships as the Athens 2004 Olympians collected their biggest payday on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour with US$35,000 for the third-place finish.

As Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh stood atop an international Beach Volleyball podium with their third-straight SWATCH-FIVB World Championships gold medals around their neck, one only wonders if America’s most successful team ever can maintain their level of play through next summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing. In becoming the first men’s or women’s team to win three-straight world titles since the start of the FIVB championships in 1997, May-Treanor and Walsh won a pair of “final four” matches over teams from China at the 2007 SWATCH-FIVB World Championships to share the US$60,000 first-place prize in the $1-million “Beach Bash” in the Swiss Alps. Larissa/Juliana (BRA) took bronze with a tiebreak-victory over Xue-Zhang Xi (CHN).

The German teams of Helke Claasen/Antje Roder and Stephanie Pohl/Okka Rau finished 5th, losing their quarter-final matches against the two top-seeded teams Larissa/Juliana and May-Treanor/Walsh. Claasen and Roder gained a spot in the “elite eight” by defeating German compatriots Rieke Brink-Abeler and Hella Jurich 16-21, 31-29 and 16-14. Pohl and Rau secured their quarter-final qualification by defeating Talita Antunes and Renata Ribeiro with a 21-19 and 21-15 victory.

RUSSIAN KOLODINSKY/BARSOUK WIN SILVER IN GSTAAD

Gstaad, Switzerland, July 29, 2007. Dalhausser/Rogers joined compatriots Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh as USA gold medal winners this weekend by defeating Dmitri Barsouk and Igor Kolodinsky of Russia in the SWATCH-FIVB World Championships in Gstaad (SUI). Aussie men Andrew Schacht and Joshua Slack net bronze medal. In the women’s competition, May-Treanor/Walsh claimed their third-straight World Championships gold medals, winning their 22nd-straight international match with a 2:0-victory over Jia Tian and Jie Wang of China. The best European women's teams, Claasen-Röder and Pohl-Rau from Germany, finished 5th.

After eliminating reigning Olympic champions Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos of Brazil in the morning’s first semi-final match, Dalhausser and Rogers claimed gold, beating the European top team Dmitri Barsouk and Igor Kolodinsky of Russia 21-16 and 21-14 in the 45-minute finale. In addition to sharing the US$60,000 first-place prize in the $1-million “Beach Volleyball Bash” in the Swiss Alps, Dalhausser and Rogers will benefit from the 1,000 points towards qualifying for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. A tandem’s best eight finishes on the FIVB World Tour through July 20, 2008 will count towards qualifying for the 24-team field. “This weekend was about Beach Volleyball, but not just about Beach Volleyball,” said the 33-year Rogers, who was named the most outstanding player for the SWATCH-FIVB World Championships. “For me, these experiences are what I will remember. It not only is the competition, but it is about the fans in the stands, the beautiful surroundings and the overall atmosphere of good feelings generated this weekend.” Kolodinsky and Barsouk become the most successful Russian Beach Volleyball team since the start of the FIVB World Tour in 1987 by winning the silver medals of the 2007 FIVB Championships. Russia had only one bronze medal and two “final four” finishes in the first 20 years of the international circuit as Kolodinsky and Barsouk were playing in their sixth semi-final this season with bronze medal finishes in Italy, Croatia and last week in Marseille.

Andrew Schacht and Joshua Slack ended Brazil’s run of men’s medals at the SWATCH-FIVB World Championships as the Australians upset top-ranked Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos here Sunday afternoon before a jammed-packed crowd of 9,000 Beach Volleyball fans for the bronze medal match. With their 21-17 and 21-19 win in 42 minutes, Schacht and Slack also became the first Australian men’s team to medal at the world championships as the Athens 2004 Olympians collected their biggest payday on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour with US$35,000 for the third-place finish.

As Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh stood atop an international Beach Volleyball podium with their third-straight SWATCH-FIVB World Championships gold medals around their neck, one only wonders if America’s most successful team ever can maintain their level of play through next summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing. In becoming the first men’s or women’s team to win three-straight world titles since the start of the FIVB championships in 1997, May-Treanor and Walsh won a pair of “final four” matches over teams from China at the 2007 SWATCH-FIVB World Championships to share the US$60,000 first-place prize in the $1-million “Beach Bash” in the Swiss Alps. Larissa/Juliana (BRA) took bronze with a tiebreak-victory over Xue-Zhang Xi (CHN).

The German teams of Helke Claasen/Antje Roder and Stephanie Pohl/Okka Rau finished 5th, losing their quarter-final matches against the two top-seeded teams Larissa/Juliana and May-Treanor/Walsh. Claasen and Roder gained a spot in the “elite eight” by defeating German compatriots Rieke Brink-Abeler and Hella Jurich 16-21, 31-29 and 16-14. Pohl and Rau secured their quarter-final qualification by defeating Talita Antunes and Renata Ribeiro with a 21-19 and 21-15 victory.

AMERICANS SWEEP SWATCH-FIVB WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GOLD MEDALS

Gstaad, Switzerland, July 29, 2007 - The only thing that Todd Rogers mishandled here Sunday was the opening of a champagne bottle after he and Phil Dalhausser won the men’s finale to give the United States a sweep of the gold medals this weekend at the 2007 SWATCH-FIVB World Championships powered by 1to1 energy.

After eliminating reigning Olympic champions Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos of Brazil in the morning’s first semi-final match, Dalhausser and Rogers joined compatriots Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh as USA gold medal winners this weekend by defeating Dmitri Barsouk and Igor Kolodinsky of Russia 21-16 and 21-14 in the 45-minute finale.

In addition to sharing the US$60,000 first-place prize in the $1-million “Beach Volleyball Bash” in the Swiss Alps, Dalhausser and Rogers will benefit from the 1,000 points towards qualifying for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. A tandem’s best eight finishes on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour through July 20, 2008 will count towards qualifying for the 24-team field.

“This weekend was about Beach Volleyball, but not just about Beach Volleyball,” said the 33-year Rogers, who was named the SWATCH most outstanding player for the SWATCH-FIVB World Championships. “For me, these experiences are what I will remember. It not only is the competition, but it is about the fans in the stands, the beautiful surroundings and the overall atmosphere of good feelings generated this weekend.”

Rogers also added, that his partner “was the real outstanding player for the event. I bet Phil that he would be the SWATCH top player for the event since this was a homecoming for him and his family. I share this award with him as he is becoming one of the great players in the world. I am lucky to have him as a partner.”

Sunday’s title was the second SWATCH gold medal for the Americans, who won for the first time on the FIVB tour last August in Austria where Dalhausser and Rogers defeated Emanuel and Ricardo for the title. The next stop on the international circuit is next week in Austria where Dalhausser and Rogers will be defending their Klagenfurt title as the reigning SWATCH-FIVB World Champions.

“It is a tremendous feeling to win this title in front of my parents and relatives,” said the 27-year old Dalhausser, who lived a year in Switzerland before moving to the United States with his Swiss mother and German father. “We played two quality opponents today. Except for the second set against the Brazilians, we had a great day.”

Rogers and Dalhausser advanced to the gold medal match by posting a 21-16, 13-21 and 19-17 win in 68 minutes over Emanuel and Ricardo, who captured the 2003 SWATCH-FIVB World Championships in Rio de Janeiro before claiming Olympic gold the next year in Athens.

Barsouk and Kolodinsky, who shared $45,000 for second-place as the first Russian men’s or women’s team to play in a SWATCH-FIVB World Tour gold medal match in the 20-plus-year history of the International circuit, advanced to the title match with a 21-13 and 21-19 win in 45 minutes over Andrew Schacht and Joshua Slack of Australia.

In the bronze medal match, Schacht and Slack ended Brazil’s run of men’s medals at the SWATCH-FIVB World Championships as the Australians upset Emanuel and Ricardo 21-17 and 21-19 win in 42 minutes to capture the $35,000 third-place prize. The Brazilians split $28,000 for fourth-place.

The eighth of 13 double gender stops on the 2007 SWATCH-FIVB World Tour, the women’s 2007 SWATCH-FIVB World Championships ended Saturday with reigning Olympic champions May-Treanor and Walsh defeating Jia Tian and Jie Wang of China 21-16 and 21-10 for their third-straight world title.

AMERICANS SWEEP SWATCH-FIVB WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GOLD MEDALS

Gstaad, Switzerland, July 29, 2007 - The only thing that Todd Rogers mishandled here Sunday was the opening of a champagne bottle after he and Phil Dalhausser won the men’s finale to give the United States a sweep of the gold medals this weekend at the 2007 SWATCH-FIVB World Championships powered by 1to1 energy.

After eliminating reigning Olympic champions Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos of Brazil in the morning’s first semi-final match, Dalhausser and Rogers joined compatriots Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh as USA gold medal winners this weekend by defeating Dmitri Barsouk and Igor Kolodinsky of Russia 21-16 and 21-14 in the 45-minute finale.

In addition to sharing the US$60,000 first-place prize in the $1-million “Beach Volleyball Bash” in the Swiss Alps, Dalhausser and Rogers will benefit from the 1,000 points towards qualifying for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. A tandem’s best eight finishes on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour through July 20, 2008 will count towards qualifying for the 24-team field.

“This weekend was about Beach Volleyball, but not just about Beach Volleyball,” said the 33-year Rogers, who was named the SWATCH most outstanding player for the SWATCH-FIVB World Championships. “For me, these experiences are what I will remember. It not only is the competition, but it is about the fans in the stands, the beautiful surroundings and the overall atmosphere of good feelings generated this weekend.”

Rogers also added, that his partner “was the real outstanding player for the event. I bet Phil that he would be the SWATCH top player for the event since this was a homecoming for him and his family. I share this award with him as he is becoming one of the great players in the world. I am lucky to have him as a partner.”

Sunday’s title was the second SWATCH gold medal for the Americans, who won for the first time on the FIVB tour last August in Austria where Dalhausser and Rogers defeated Emanuel and Ricardo for the title. The next stop on the international circuit is next week in Austria where Dalhausser and Rogers will be defending their Klagenfurt title as the reigning SWATCH-FIVB World Champions.

“It is a tremendous feeling to win this title in front of my parents and relatives,” said the 27-year old Dalhausser, who lived a year in Switzerland before moving to the United States with his Swiss mother and German father. “We played two quality opponents today. Except for the second set against the Brazilians, we had a great day.”

Rogers and Dalhausser advanced to the gold medal match by posting a 21-16, 13-21 and 19-17 win in 68 minutes over Emanuel and Ricardo, who captured the 2003 SWATCH-FIVB World Championships in Rio de Janeiro before claiming Olympic gold the next year in Athens.

Barsouk and Kolodinsky, who shared $45,000 for second-place as the first Russian men’s or women’s team to play in a SWATCH-FIVB World Tour gold medal match in the 20-plus-year history of the International circuit, advanced to the title match with a 21-13 and 21-19 win in 45 minutes over Andrew Schacht and Joshua Slack of Australia.

In the bronze medal match, Schacht and Slack ended Brazil’s run of men’s medals at the SWATCH-FIVB World Championships as the Australians upset Emanuel and Ricardo 21-17 and 21-19 win in 42 minutes to capture the $35,000 third-place prize. The Brazilians split $28,000 for fourth-place.

The eighth of 13 double gender stops on the 2007 SWATCH-FIVB World Tour, the women’s 2007 SWATCH-FIVB World Championships ended Saturday with reigning Olympic champions May-Treanor and Walsh defeating Jia Tian and Jie Wang of China 21-16 and 21-10 for their third-straight world title.

AMERICANS SWEEP SWATCH-FIVB WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GOLD MEDALS

Gstaad, Switzerland, July 29, 2007 - The only thing that Todd Rogers mishandled here Sunday was the opening of a champagne bottle after he and Phil Dalhausser won the men’s finale to give the United States a sweep of the gold medals this weekend at the 2007 SWATCH-FIVB World Championships powered by 1to1 energy.

After eliminating reigning Olympic champions Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos of Brazil in the morning’s first semi-final match, Dalhausser and Rogers joined compatriots Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh as USA gold medal winners this weekend by defeating Dmitri Barsouk and Igor Kolodinsky of Russia 21-16 and 21-14 in the 45-minute finale.

In addition to sharing the US$60,000 first-place prize in the $1-million “Beach Volleyball Bash” in the Swiss Alps, Dalhausser and Rogers will benefit from the 1,000 points towards qualifying for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. A tandem’s best eight finishes on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour through July 20, 2008 will count towards qualifying for the 24-team field.

“This weekend was about Beach Volleyball, but not just about Beach Volleyball,” said the 33-year Rogers, who was named the SWATCH most outstanding player for the SWATCH-FIVB World Championships. “For me, these experiences are what I will remember. It not only is the competition, but it is about the fans in the stands, the beautiful surroundings and the overall atmosphere of good feelings generated this weekend.”

Rogers also added, that his partner “was the real outstanding player for the event. I bet Phil that he would be the SWATCH top player for the event since this was a homecoming for him and his family. I share this award with him as he is becoming one of the great players in the world. I am lucky to have him as a partner.”

Sunday’s title was the second SWATCH gold medal for the Americans, who won for the first time on the FIVB tour last August in Austria where Dalhausser and Rogers defeated Emanuel and Ricardo for the title. The next stop on the international circuit is next week in Austria where Dalhausser and Rogers will be defending their Klagenfurt title as the reigning SWATCH-FIVB World Champions.

“It is a tremendous feeling to win this title in front of my parents and relatives,” said the 27-year old Dalhausser, who lived a year in Switzerland before moving to the United States with his Swiss mother and German father. “We played two quality opponents today. Except for the second set against the Brazilians, we had a great day.”

Rogers and Dalhausser advanced to the gold medal match by posting a 21-16, 13-21 and 19-17 win in 68 minutes over Emanuel and Ricardo, who captured the 2003 SWATCH-FIVB World Championships in Rio de Janeiro before claiming Olympic gold the next year in Athens.

Barsouk and Kolodinsky, who shared $45,000 for second-place as the first Russian men’s or women’s team to play in a SWATCH-FIVB World Tour gold medal match in the 20-plus-year history of the International circuit, advanced to the title match with a 21-13 and 21-19 win in 45 minutes over Andrew Schacht and Joshua Slack of Australia.

In the bronze medal match, Schacht and Slack ended Brazil’s run of men’s medals at the SWATCH-FIVB World Championships as the Australians upset Emanuel and Ricardo 21-17 and 21-19 win in 42 minutes to capture the $35,000 third-place prize. The Brazilians split $28,000 for fourth-place.

The eighth of 13 double gender stops on the 2007 SWATCH-FIVB World Tour, the women’s 2007 SWATCH-FIVB World Championships ended Saturday with reigning Olympic champions May-Treanor and Walsh defeating Jia Tian and Jie Wang of China 21-16 and 21-10 for their third-straight world title.

Φέρνει πρόταση για ακραίο

Η επιστροφή του Γιώργου Χριστόπουλου από το εξωτερικό θα δρομολογήσει εξελίξεις στην ΕΑ Πατρών. Ο Θεσσαλονικιός τεχνικός φέρνει πρόταση για την απόκτηση ενός ξένου ακραίου, ανεξάρτητα από την έλευση του Μάριου Γκιούρδα.

Επίσης, θα εξεταστεί το θέμα του Ντόναλντ Σούξο, ο οποίος ναι μεν έχει στείλει υπογεγραμμένο συμβόλαιο, ωστόσο παραμένει τραυματίας και απουσίασε από τα παιχνίδια των ΗΠΑ στους Παναμερικανικούς Αγώνες. Η Πάτρα θα του ζητήσει να εξεταστεί από δικό της γιατρό και αν οι εξετάσεις δείξουν πρόβλημα, θα κινηθεί για την απόκτηση του Βούλγαρου Αντρέι Ζέκοφ, με τον οποίο ήδη έχει αρχίσει συζητήσεις.

Μέσα στην εβδομάδα η ΕΑΠ θα περιμένει τις εξελίξεις στο θέμα του Μάριου Γκιούρδα, ο οποίος αν δεν αποδεσμευθεί από τον Ολυμπιακό, θα καταθέσει προσφυγή, καθώς έχει λαμβάνειν δεδουλευμένα 3 μηνών.

Φέρνει πρόταση για ακραίο

Η επιστροφή του Γιώργου Χριστόπουλου από το εξωτερικό θα δρομολογήσει εξελίξεις στην ΕΑ Πατρών. Ο Θεσσαλονικιός τεχνικός φέρνει πρόταση για την απόκτηση ενός ξένου ακραίου, ανεξάρτητα από την έλευση του Μάριου Γκιούρδα.

Επίσης, θα εξεταστεί το θέμα του Ντόναλντ Σούξο, ο οποίος ναι μεν έχει στείλει υπογεγραμμένο συμβόλαιο, ωστόσο παραμένει τραυματίας και απουσίασε από τα παιχνίδια των ΗΠΑ στους Παναμερικανικούς Αγώνες. Η Πάτρα θα του ζητήσει να εξεταστεί από δικό της γιατρό και αν οι εξετάσεις δείξουν πρόβλημα, θα κινηθεί για την απόκτηση του Βούλγαρου Αντρέι Ζέκοφ, με τον οποίο ήδη έχει αρχίσει συζητήσεις.

Μέσα στην εβδομάδα η ΕΑΠ θα περιμένει τις εξελίξεις στο θέμα του Μάριου Γκιούρδα, ο οποίος αν δεν αποδεσμευθεί από τον Ολυμπιακό, θα καταθέσει προσφυγή, καθώς έχει λαμβάνειν δεδουλευμένα 3 μηνών.

Φέρνει πρόταση για ακραίο

Η επιστροφή του Γιώργου Χριστόπουλου από το εξωτερικό θα δρομολογήσει εξελίξεις στην ΕΑ Πατρών. Ο Θεσσαλονικιός τεχνικός φέρνει πρόταση για την απόκτηση ενός ξένου ακραίου, ανεξάρτητα από την έλευση του Μάριου Γκιούρδα.

Επίσης, θα εξεταστεί το θέμα του Ντόναλντ Σούξο, ο οποίος ναι μεν έχει στείλει υπογεγραμμένο συμβόλαιο, ωστόσο παραμένει τραυματίας και απουσίασε από τα παιχνίδια των ΗΠΑ στους Παναμερικανικούς Αγώνες. Η Πάτρα θα του ζητήσει να εξεταστεί από δικό της γιατρό και αν οι εξετάσεις δείξουν πρόβλημα, θα κινηθεί για την απόκτηση του Βούλγαρου Αντρέι Ζέκοφ, με τον οποίο ήδη έχει αρχίσει συζητήσεις.

Μέσα στην εβδομάδα η ΕΑΠ θα περιμένει τις εξελίξεις στο θέμα του Μάριου Γκιούρδα, ο οποίος αν δεν αποδεσμευθεί από τον Ολυμπιακό, θα καταθέσει προσφυγή, καθώς έχει λαμβάνειν δεδουλευμένα 3 μηνών.