The increasingly popular summertime event was once again held on the grounds of the Hotel Anders. As a news announcement, the Polish Volleyball Federation, Hotel Anders and Stare Jablonki have been awarded the FIVB Beach Volleyball SWATCH World Championships in 2013.
In last year’s championship competition, the championship was claimed by USA’s Phil Dalhausser/Todd Rogers in the men’s division and Brazil’s Juliana Felisberta Silva/Larissa Franca in the women’s. The USA men beat Poland’s Grzegorz Fijalek/Mariusz Prudel in the gold medal match.
The Mazury Orlen Grand Slam in Stare Jablonki is the last of a FIVB-record eight grand slam events this season.
Seven of the eight U.S. volleyball Olympians competed in Poland. The 2012 London gold medalist Kerri Walsh partnered with Nicole Branagh in the Polish tourney. The long-time Olympic partner for Walsh, Misty May-Treanor, retired after the London win.
By Raymond Rolak
Photo:
Katrin Holtwick (left) and Ilka Semmler advanced into the semifinals of the Mazury Orlen Grand Slam beach volleyball in Poland after beating Jennifer Kessy and April Ross.