DTS, Interpack event delivers excitement

The DTS/Interpack Beach Volleyball Tournament, which took place last Saturday at the DTS Sports Ground in Windhoek, saw 28 teams taking part. The event forms part of the National Beach Volleyball League, which consists of six tournaments. The teams consisted of six men’s teams, eight women’s teams, five mixed four-a-side social teams, six youth/social two-a-side and three junior two-a-side girls’ teams. Blessed with great weather, the tournament attracted a good spectator turnout for the one-day event. N$5 000 in prize money was to be won and the teams were fighting hard to reach the podium. In the four-a-side category altogether 13 matches were played on the grass courts of the DTS. The semi-final was played between teams Scoops and Intouch 4, and Cats & Dogs against Farmers Attack. Intouch 4 upset the Cats & Dogs in the final by winning 2-0. Third place went to Scoops. The two-a-side youth/social category saw Marc Neuhaus and Ralf Düvel at the top, with Eike Hoff and Michelle Bierbach in second place and Mark and Yvonne Brinkmann in third place. The junior girls’ category was won by Methe Ritzdorf and Friedja Mehnert. Runners-up were Ranjana Metzger and Jasmin Baas in second place and Lara von Breda and Diane von Ludwiger in third place. Eight teams competed in the women’s category. The first- and second-seeded teams, Anita Kinder/Simone von Wietersheim and Teja Lück/Rosi Hennes, lost their matches in the quarterfinal against junior team Maike Brandt/ Mareike Talkenberg and Wiebke Höritzauer /Birte Fahrbach respectively. In a real thriller played under floodlights, both teams won a set each to set up a decisive third-set tiebreak, which Brandt and Talkenberg won 18-16, clinching their first senior tournament title. The men’s category proved to be very competitive field consisting of young and old players. Top-seeded team Achim Lück and Peter Brinkmann lost to Andreas Ebert and Michael Sickel in the quarterfinals and managed to come back through the losers’ round, facing James Verrinder and Tin Hlupic, who showed that they are in top form, winning the match in two easy sets. Junior National Team players Jan Eric Sack and Roman von Ludwiger managed to reach the semi-finals by beating senior team Arno Pack and Heiko Prior in a close encounter that was only decided by a third tie-break set. Here they faced Michael Sickel and Andreas Ewald, and they showed that their international experience gained this year was worthwhile, winning the match and qualifying for the final. Their opponents were none other than their coach Verrinder playing with U-21 national player Hlupic. In an action-packed final, Verrinder and Hlupic were just too strong; winning the match and tournament title. Third place went to Ewald and Sickel. WINDHOEK-SPORT REPORTER