Beach Volleyball
Austria and Spain successfully navigated the quarterfinal round of the 2025 CEV Beach Volley Nations Cup Finals in Espinho, earning their places alongside pool winners Norway and the Netherlands in Sunday`s final day of competition.
Semifinal Schedule Announced
Both nations, having finished second in their respective pools, needed to win their quarterfinal matches to advance. The semifinals are now set for Sunday: Austria will challenge the Netherlands in matches scheduled for 9:30 and 10:30 local time, while Spain will face Norway at 12:00 and 13:00. The tournament final will also be held on Sunday, determining the ultimate champions.
Austria`s Path to the Semifinals
Representing Pool B, Austria advanced by securing two decisive wins against Lithuania in their quarterfinal clash. Julian Hörl and Philipp Waller kicked off their campaign with a hard-fought tie-break victory (18-21, 21-18, 15-9) over Robert Juchnevic and Artur Vasiljev. This was followed by a dominant straight-sets win (21-15, 21-14) from Tim Berger and Timo Hammarberg against Arnas Rumsevicius and Karolis Palubinskas, sealing Austria`s progression with a strong performance.
Spain`s Triumph in the Iberian Derby
Similarly, Spain, the second-place team from Pool A, overcame host nation Portugal in a compelling Iberian Derby. Álvaro Viera and Antonio Saucedo set the tone with a swift two-set victory (21-17, 21-14) against brothers Gonçalo and Tomas Sousa. The Huerta brothers, Alejandro and Javier, then confirmed Spain`s triumph by defeating Hugo Campos and João Pedrosa in a thrilling 2-1 contest (20-22, 21-19, 15-11), securing their spot in the next round.
About the Beach Nations Cup
The Beach Nations Cup, an exciting innovation introduced in the European beach volleyball calendar in 2022, features a unique `country vs country` competition format. This structure mirrors the team-based championship style seen in tennis, particularly resembling the prestigious Davis Cup.
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood