The finals of the men’s and women’s beach volleyball tournament of the 3rd Mediterranean Beach Games “Heraklion 2023”, which will take place on Saturday 16 September, will have an Italian colour.

In the women’s competition, both Italian teams qualified, competing in the semi-finals of the event, while the Italian pair will also compete in the men’s final, claiming the gold medal with their French counterparts.

Italy’s Benzi/Bonifazi defeated compatriots Dal Corso/Viscovich 2-1 in the men’s tournament after a thrilling match.

The other semi-final was decided in the extra set, with the ticket to the final finally being won 2-1 in sets by the French team Aye Quincy / Aye Calvin (Aye Q. / Aye C.), who knocked out the Portuguese team (Campos / Pedrosa) Campos / Pedrosa.

In the women’s tournament, the Italian Orsi / Bianchin (Orsi / Bianchin) overcame the resistance of the Greek women (Triantafyllidi – Matiou) with 2-0 sets and will claim the gold medal in Saturday’s final.

“From the beginning of the matches we had set the goal of winning the gold medal. We will give it all in the final so that the Italian anthem can be heard for us here,” said an excited Reka Orsi.

Greek Dionysia Matiou said “in such important competitions, the slightest mistake is not forgiven. We are going for third place. We will give everything to get the bronze medal in our country, in a great event”.

Italy’s Bianchin / Scampoli were also the winners in the semifinal match, after they beat the French team, composed of Vieira / Chamerau, 2-0 in sets.

In the ranking matches, the fifth place will be decided in the matches on Saturday, September 16. In the men’s competition, the Greek duo of Dalla / Chatzinikolaou, who won 2-0 in the “civil war” against Kanello / Terzoglou, will face the Serbian team (Kolaric / Klasnic), who won 2-0 against the Croatian team (Zelenika / Skorin).

In women’s fifth place will be claimed by French Descamps / Sobezalz, who beat 2-0 the duo from Cyprus (Gusarova D. / Nystrom) and will play against the Slovenian duo (Losvin / Kotnik), who beat 2-0 the Greek Paschalaki / Alexoglou. The losers of the ranking matches will compete on the last day of the event for the seventh place.

Eleni Alexoglou after the match said “we reached the final eight of the tournament and we are satisfied.We had it as a goal, but we didn’t think we would make it. Now we will challenge for seventh place”.

The men’s and women’s beach volleyball tournament of the 3rd Mediterranean Coastal Games “Heraklion 2023” will conclude on the morning of Saturday, September 16 at the Karteros Beach Sports Center with the matches that will decide the medals and the final ranking.