FIVB world champions Juliana Felisberta and Larissa Franca won their fourth straight gold medal at the Mazury Orlen Grand Slam on Saturday when they beat Italy’s Greta Cicolari and Marta Menegatti in the women’s gold medal match.
The Brazilians were in control in the first set, but had to work harder in the second where they saved a set-point before they went on to win 21-16, 22-20 in 38 minutes. In the bronze medal match Katrin Holtwick and Ilka Semmler beat Evgenia Ukolova and Ekaterina Khomyakova.
“We knew it would be tough and we had to play hard. I am so happy we could beat these opponents. Now we will go back to Brazil and enjoy the moment” – Juliana said.
Cicolari and Menegatti’s silver is their second of the year and their fourth in total after they also won two bronze medals. It caps an impressive season in which they reached the quarterfinals of the Olympics, though a World Tour gold medal continues to elude them.
Holtwick and Semmler had to fight hard to win the bronze medal and needed to come from a set down to beat Russia’s Ukolova and Khomyakova and finish with a 23-25, 26-24, 15-13 win.
After they lost the first set, they then let five second set points slip through their hands before they eventually drew level. Once they got to match point in the third set they held their nerve and won the match with the first chance they had.
The women’s calendar is set to culminate with the Bang Saen Thailand Open powered by PTT in Thailand which runs from October 23-28.
Semifinals’ results
Ukolova/Khomyakova (RUS) – Cicolari/Menegatti (ITA) 1:2
(21:16, 19:21, 9:15)
Holtwick/Semmler (GER) – Larissa/Juliana (BRA) 1:2
(17:21, 21:14, 10:15)
Bronze medal match
Holtwick/Semmler (GER) – Ukolova/Khomyakova (RUS) 2:1
(23:25, 26:24, 15:13)
Final match
Larissa/Juliana (BRA) – Cicolari/Menegatti (ITA) 2:0
(21:16, 22:20)
source: fivb.org
