Lithuania’s Monika Paulikiene and Aine Raupelyte and Australians Thomas Hodges and Ben Hood rule their respective divisions in the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Nuvali Challenge. –PNVF PHOTO
SANTA ROSA, Laguna — Lithuanian Olympians Monika Paulikiene and Aine Raupelyte captured the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Nuvali Challenge title after dominating Americans Alaina Chacon and Madelyn Anderson, 21-12, 21-11, on Sunday night at the Nuvali Sands Courts here.
Raupelyte controlled the net throughout the match, especially in the second set, where the 6-foot-6 Lithuanian anchored a decisive run that turned into an 18-8 advantage after a lucky dig conversion by Paulikiene.
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The Americans managed to trim the deficit to 19-11 before Paulikiene pushed Lithuania to championship point. Raupelyte then sealed the victory with an attack off a floater to clinch the pair’s first championship together.
“Like always, just to do the best as I can and be aggressive on the block,” Raupelyte said after scoring 23 points built on 16 kills and seven blocks.
Raupelyte also credited her chemistry with Paulikiene, who added 10 points on eight attacks and two aces.
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“She makes my job easier by putting the ball by one touch,” Raupelyte said. “I think that we made it because we had a great atmosphere. We’re supporting each other.”
The title was a breakthrough for the Lithuanian duo after settling for silver medals in the Tlaxcala Challenge in Mexico last March and the Xiamen Challenge in China earlier this month.
“It’s amazing after playing three years in the Challenger events. It’s our first gold,” Raupelyte said. “This is history for Lithuanians, the first time for Lithuanians to take a gold medal.”
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Anderson scored 11 points in the loss, while Chacon finished with eight, as the gold remained elusive for the American pair.
In the men’s division, Australians Thomas Hodges and Ben Hood rallied from a slow start to defeat Swiss pair Adrian Heidrich and Yves Haussener, 14-21, 21-16, 15-8, and capture their first title together in the Nuvali Challenge.
After dropping the opening set, Hodges and Hood carried their momentum from the second frame into the decider, racing to a commanding 10-4 lead.
Hood later scored off the block to extend Australia’s cushion to 13-7 before Hodges delivered a huge block for championship point.
Carrying the momentum from a strong second set win, Hodges ignited a 10-4 start in the decider before Hood scored off the block to stretch it to 13-7.
Hodges nailed a big block to reach championship point, followed by a strong hit by Hood to win it all.
“We just had to stick together,” said Hodges, who finished with 23 points.
“We had a few moments where, I mean, this morning we lost a set, but we managed to maintain a good head. First set here, they came out and played really, really well. And all full credit to the team to stay composed and to continue to go back to what we do.”
“Awesome. It’s just been really fun and I’ve really enjoyed just the battles we’ve had,” added Hood, who tallied 11.
Earlier, Dutch pair Emi van Driel and Mila Konink claimed the bronze medal after defeating Ukrainians Valentyna Davidova and Anhelina Khmil, 22-20, 21-18.
Konink exploded for 23 points as the Dutch tandem bounced back from a semifinal loss to the eventual champions earlier in the day.
In the men’s division, Swiss duo Julian Friedli and Jonathan Jordan secured the bronze medal after rallying past Germans Philipp Huster and Sven Winter, 18-21, 21-13, 15-13.
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