Aydin, Turkey, May 16, 2019 – Two teams from Russia and two from Ukraine advanced to the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Aydin 2-Star main draw on Thursday to take the number of teams starting pool play on Friday to 16.
Russia’s Ksenia Dabizha and Daria Rudykh faced Lithuania’s Ieva Dumbauskaite and Irina Zobnina and progressed with a 2-0 (21-16, 21-14) victory.
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Their compatriots Alexandra Moiseeva and Ekaterina Syrtseva took on Poland’s Martyna Kloda and Agata Ceynowa and had to fight back from losing the first set to win 2-1 (19-21, 21-19, 27-25).
Ukraine’s Maryna Samoday and Diana Lunina enjoyed a 2-0 (21-16, 21-18) defeat of Swiss youngsters Esmee Bobner and Zoe Verge-Depre, while twins Inna and Iryna Makhno were victorious against Greece’s Dmitra Manavi, 2-1 (21-17, 19-21, 16-14).
The tournament is taking place in Ataturk City Square in the centre of Aydin and it is the second year the city has hosted a 2-Star event. In 2018 Cuba’s Mailen Deliz and Leila Martinez won women’s gold, while Serbia’s Stefan Basta and Lazar Kolaric topped the men’s podium.