An absolute home team triumph delighted the Swiss fans at the men’s Geneva Futures last week. With support from FIVB Volleyball Empowerment, three Swiss duos claimed all podium spots: Yves Haussener & Julian Friedli secured gold, Florian Breer & Luc Fluckiger took silver, and Adrian Heidrich & Jonathan Jordan earned bronze.
Swiss Volley’s beach volleyball program has received significant coach support from FIVB Volleyball Empowerment, totalling USD 366,000 to date. This funding allows their male athletes to benefit from the expert guidance of coach Philip Gabathuler.
The top-seeded team of Yves Haussener and 18-year-old Julian Friedli demonstrated why they were bracket leaders, finishing at the top of the final standings. They achieved this after an undefeated run of five matches in Geneva, securing their second gold medal and fourth overall on the Beach Pro Tour together. Their path to gold included a 2-0 (21-19, 21-17) semifinal win against Norway`s fourth-seeded Nils Gunnar Ringoen & Even Stray Aas, followed by a comeback victory in the all-Swiss final against Breer & Fluckiger, winning 2-1 (20-22, 21-16, 15-11).
Despite failing to upset the top seed in the final, the 12th-seeded pair of Breer & Fluckiger earned a well-deserved silver medal, marking their first appearance on a Beach Pro Tour podium. Their journey included a significant upset victory over the second-seeded Heidrich & Jordan in the semifinal, also coming back from a set down to win 2-1 (18-21, 21-17, 15-12).
Adrian Heidrich & Jonathan Jordan rebounded from their semifinal loss to claim the bronze medal. They secured third place with a tough 2-0 (29-27, 21-15) victory over Ringoen & Aas in the third-place match. This is the duo’s second medal on the Beach Pro Tour; they previously won gold at the Spiez Futures last month, also on home soil.
The men’s Geneva Futures saw participation from 28 teams representing 15 different countries. The women’s Futures tournament in Geneva is scheduled for later this week, from June 26 to 29.
Men’s Geneva Futures: results and standings
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood