British women spoil Brazilian Otera Open dominance

An upset victory by Zara Dampney and Shauna Mullin of Great Britain spoiled a “perfect” day for the Brazilian women in Kristiansand, Norway on Wednesday at the US$380,000 Otera Open as the 23rd-seeded qualifiers are guaranteed their best-ever placements on the SWATCH FIVB World Tour.

Playing in their first international Beach Volleyball Main Draw since the end of April in Shanghai with failing to qualify for the “money” rounds in their last six SWATCH FIVB World Tour starts, Dampney and Mullin validated their qualifying win Tuesday with upset victories Wednesday over teams from Norway and Brazil to secure a guaranteed ninth-place finish in the Otera Open.

After posting a 21-19, 19-21 and 15-10 win in 53 minutes in their first match Wednesday over 10th-seeded Janne Kongshavn and Kathrine Maaseide of Norway, Dampney and Mullin scored a 21-13 and 21-18 victory over seventh-seeded Vivian Cunha and Angela Vieira of Brazil in 37 minutes.  The two wins doubled the Brits total Main Draw victories together as Dampney and Mullin are competing in their 16th SWATCH FIVB World Tour event.

Dampney and Mullen will play second-seeded Talita Antunes and Maria Antonelli in an opening meeting Thursday as the Brazilians were one of three teams from the South American country to win both of their matches Wednesday.  Antonelli is a defending Otera Open champion as she won the 2008 event with Vanilda Leão.

For more info and live results go to the FIVB web site.