The European beach volleyball season continues to deliver intense competition, with national tours across the continent hosting thrilling events. From the Baltic shores to the Mediterranean coasts and reaching as far as Japan, players battled for top honors, showcasing skill, strategy, and sheer determination on the sand.
In **Estonia**, the Rannavolle Suvetuur stopped in Paide. The women`s gold went to top-seeded duo Maret Kuuse & Laura Liisa Maiste after a hard-fought 2-1 victory (21-19, 18-21, 15-11) against Lithuania`s Vlada Oganauskiene & Lilija Firinovic. The bronze was claimed by Raili Hunt & Marie Pohlak, who pulled off a 2-0 upset (21-14, 21-16) for third place. The men`s final saw bracket leaders Kusti Nolvak & Rasmus Meius triumph 2-1 (22-20, 17-21, 15-10) over Urmas Piik & Sander Steinberg, while wild cards Kristo Kollo & Karl Jaani secured bronze with a 2-0 win (21-17, 21-14).
France`s Beach Volley Series held a women`s stop in Saintes. Julie De Vathaire & Faustine Blondeau delivered a notable performance, upsetting the top seeds Naty Molinos & Lucile Colin in straight sets (21-16, 21-16) to take the gold. The bronze medal match was a true grinder, with the mixed Polish-American pairing of Aleksandra Wachowicz & Violeta Slabakova overcoming Maeva Guignan & Emere Maau-Boutry 2-1 (21-16, 23-25, 16-14).
Germany was particularly active, hosting events on two tours. The 2025 German Beach Tour (yes, 2025 – we report what`s reported!) stopped in Munich. Second-seeded Hanna-Marie Schieder & Karla Borger secured the women`s gold in a three-set battle (21-18, 15-21, 15-12) against Mareet Maidhof & Paula Schurholz. Third place was shared. On the men`s side, David Poniewaz & Luis Kubo edged out qualifiers Yannick Bibelriether & Valentin Schneckenburger 2-1 (20-22, 21-14, 15-7) in the final, while bronze was shared by an Austrian duo and a German pair.
Germany`s ROCK the BEACH tour also commenced its season in Sankt Peter-Ording. Men`s top seeds Yannik Ahr & Luis Henrichs lived up to their billing, winning gold 2-1 (21-11, 21-23, 15-8) against Georg Wolf & Peter Wolf. A mixed German-Slovenian team, Jonathan Erdmann & Nejc Zemljak, took bronze in a tight three-setter (21-15, 13-21, 15-13). In the women`s event, second seeds Leonie Klinke & Elea Beutel claimed gold with a dominant 2-0 upset (21-13, 21-16) over the top-ranked pair. Nina Interwies & Larissa Claassen secured the bronze in a 2-1 match (17-21, 21-18, 15-6).
Greece`s Hellenic Beach Volleyball National Tour featured a stop in Piraeus. Wild cards Elisavet Triantafillidi & Dimitra Manavi made a significant run to the women`s gold, winning a tense 2-1 final (21-17, 14-21, 15-13). Third place was shared. The men`s competition saw Dimitrios Chatzinikolaou & Stavros Ntallas sweep the final 2-0 (21-18, 21-19) to claim gold. Bronze medals were also shared in the men`s bracket.
Italy`s Fonzies Absolute Championship tour landed in Marina di Ravenna. The men`s final saw second seeds Carlo Bonifazi & Raoul Acerbi secure a 2-0 victory (21-16, 21-19). Simone Podesta & Edoardo Pizzileo took bronze in straight sets (21-15, 21-18). On the women`s side, third-seeded Giada Benazzi & Erika Ditta triumphed with a 2-0 win (23-21, 21-18), while Aurora Mattavelli & Margherita Tega completed the podium with a 2-0 bronze medal match victory (21-15, 21-16).
Venturing eastward, the Japan Beach Volleyball Tour held an event in Yokohama. Women`s bracket leaders Sakura Ito & Mayu Sawame claimed gold with a 2-0 win (21-17, 23-21). Third place was shared. The men`s tournament featured an upset in the final, with third seeds Hiroki Dylan Kurokawa & Yoshiumi Hasegawa defeating the top-ranked team 2-1 (21-15, 20-22, 15-12) for gold. Men`s bronze was shared between two pairs.
Back in Europe, the Netherlands` Eredivisie Beach tour visited Utrecht. Second seeds Cain van Hal & Mart van Werkhoven took the men`s gold 2-0 (21-16, 21-16). The bronze match was a thrilling three-setter (19-21, 25-23, 15-13). For the women, bracket leaders Mila Konink & Raisa Schoon dominated the final with a 2-0 win (21-11, 21-17). The bronze medal match saw an upset, with Serena van der Made & Rianne Stok winning 2-1 (21-18, 22-24, 15-10).
Poland`s Orlen Beach Volley Tour stopped in Leba. Second seeds Aleksandra Zdon & Justyna Lukaszewska secured the women`s gold 2-0 (21-11, 22-20). Agnieszka Woloszyn & Aleksandra Chyla won a close 2-0 match (24-22, 21-19) for bronze. Men`s bracket leaders Jedrzej Brozyniak & Piotr Janiak lived up to their ranking, claiming gold 2-0 (21-19, 21-13) against qualifiers. Qualifiers Jakub Zdybek & Pawel Lewandowski won the bronze in a 2-1 match (21-18, 18-21, 15-10).
Finally, Slovakia`s 2025 Nike Summer Beach Tour (yes, still 2025) visited Strazke. Men`s top seeds Adrian Petruf & Richard Petruf secured gold with a 2-0 victory (21-16, 21-18). The bronze match involved mixed Slovakian-Czech pairs, with Kamil Pavlinsky & Jarosik Jakub winning 2-1 (21-18, 19-21, 15-8). Women`s second seeds Michaela Panekova & Veronika Podhradska took gold 2-0 (21-16, 23-21), while Karolina Majernikova & Andrea Spevarova claimed bronze with a decisive 2-0 win (21-9, 21-14).
This recap highlights a dynamic period for national beach volleyball, featuring a mix of dominant performances, thrilling upsets, and closely contested matches across multiple countries, demonstrating the vibrant state of the sport at the national level.
Rupert Caldwell