The highlight of the season, the Finnish Beach Volleyball Championships was held in an impressive stadium three weeks ago. In the center of Helsinki a huge arena was set up, with seats for more than 1500 spectators and the finest, whitest sand on the whole tour.
10 teams were invited to play the Championships and we entered the competition as number four. According to the special playing method we had to play the number 7 seed Heiskanen/Leikas on Friday evening for a spot in the semi-finals.
We went to work in a concentrated and dedicated fashion and left no doubt why we had won two events of the BMW Pro Tour in 2009.
So we waited for our semi-final opponents which eventually were Lauri and Anssi Hakala, by winning against Nieminen/Uusitalo. In a rematch of the semi-final of the Grand Slam in Tampere, we started with confidence and were able to capture the first set. The match remained tight and no team could really build a gap, but next it was the Hakalas' turn to win a set. Then, in the deciding third set we were not able to return to our consistent play and had to accept the defeat. Damn!
With only one match per day we tried to rest and put our focus on the Bronze Medal match, to be played on Sunday. Maijala/Säisä were waiting for us, so far we had an even score with them in 2009: one defeat and one victory. But somehow we did not at all find into the game. We felt exhausted, tired and had difficulties to cope with the constantly changing wind and the deep sand. Still, we lost the first set only with a narrow margin and in the second set we were able to mobilize our forces and pull ahead, keeping the lead until the end of the set. But in the third set we lost a couple of big points and were missing an ounce of luck, exemplified by the matchball, an attack from Lasse which hit the net but dropped on our side... Damn!!
It is too bad to end the finals with a defeat and to remain without a medal. Nevertheless, congratulations to the Finnish Champions Haavisto/Vahela, the silver medallists Hakala/Hakala and the bronze medallists Maijala/Säisä.
But the season was not yet over, Jaakko and Erik still had an international competition ahead of them. The Swatch-FIVB World Tour made a stop in Finland. In spring Erik decided not be active as a player, but to work in the organization, so Jaaakko partnered again with Pekka Seppänen. The draw in the Qualification Tournament first brought them the Finnish team Palonen/Tommola, which they could beat. But then the Brazilian pair Benjamin/Franco was a little to strong, but at least in the second set it was an "almost" equal game... ;-)
And yet the season was still not over, one more competition was to be played in Helsinki. The "Hietsu Beach Volley" club closes the season with a traditional King and Queen of the Beach event and a subsequent party for all the members. Jaakko had in the past already won the trophy and was touted as favorite again this year, while Erik could unfortunately not register as he had other obligations. However, Jaakko was eliminated during the "semi-final", when he was not able to return from a 15 points setback... Congratulations to the winners: Queen Katri Korpisaari and King Marko Ovaska!
But by now the weather in Finland hardly permits to play outside, it is getting rainy, cold and dark....
Still we look back at a successful Beach Volleyball season and we can be happy with our achievements. Who would have thought that, with Erik breaking his finger ten days before the start of the first event, we would win two of our four participations?
Let's see what the future will bring, for now we wish you all a pleasant autumn as we take a break from Beach Volleyball competitions.
