Sophie Bukovec
2022 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship silver medalist and Paris 2024 Olympian Sophie Bukovec, alongside Tiadora Miric from Canada, marked a triumphant start to their partnership on the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour. They successfully navigated Wednesday`s single-round qualifications at the Veracruz Challenge in Mexico, securing their place in the 32-team main draw, which commences on Thursday. Seven other teams also advanced from the qualifiers.
This event saw Bukovec reuniting with Beach Pro Tour newcomer Tiadora Miric, a partnership that last saw them crowned U21 world champions in 2014. Bukovec`s previous appearance on the Tour was in June with her former partner, three-time Olympian Heather Bansley, at the Warmia Mazury Challenge in Poland.
In their inaugural match in Veracruz, Bukovec and Miric, seeded 14th in the 15-team qualification bracket, pulled off a decisive 2-0 (21-11, 21-14) victory against Japan`s third-seeded Asami Shiba and Reika Murakami. Bukovec was a formidable force at the net, delivering six kill blocks and an ace to tally a match-high 14 points, while Miric contributed 12 points, including three aces. The Canadian pair, now seeded 32nd in the main draw, will kick off their campaign on Thursday against the top-seeded American duo, Corinne Quiggle and Chloe Loreen.
Another Canadian pair, Darby Dunn and Alison Mckay, also successfully emerged from the qualifiers, sweeping their match against USA`s Devanne Sours and Piper Ferch with a 2-0 (21-18, 21-18) win.
The qualification round featured three intense three-set contests. Dutch standouts Katja Stam and Raisa Schoon secured a 2-1 (21-15, 12-21, 15-10) victory, marking their second main draw appearance since Stam`s return from injury. Poland`s Julia Kielak and Natalia Okla rallied from a set down to defeat Canada`s Dana Roskic and Emma Cudmore 2-1 (14-21, 21-15, 15-13). In the longest match of the qualifiers, spanning 51 minutes, Belgium`s Youna Coens and Ines Piret staged a hard-fought 2-1 (18-21, 25-23, 15-10) comeback to eliminate another Canadian duo, Devin Corah and Ruby Sorra.
Conversely, Puerto Rico`s Allanis Navas and Maria Gonzalez claimed the quickest victory of the day, dispatching Germany`s Chenoa Christ and Tabea Schwarz in just 32 minutes with a dominant 2-0 (21-19, 21-12) straight-sets win. Second-seeded New Zealanders Shaunna Polley and Olivia MacDonald advanced to the main draw following a 2-0 (21-12, 26-24) triumph over Denmark`s Sofia Bisgaard and Frida Lyo. Top-seeded Estonians Liisa Remmelg and Heleene Hollas received a bye, moving directly to the main draw.
The women`s main draw action at the Veracruz Challenge is scheduled to commence on Thursday morning at 09:00 local time (15:00 UTC).
Oliver Wrenwick