Teams from federations benefiting from the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program achieved remarkable success at the recent SCA U19 Beach Volleyball Championships in Dublin. All podium positions across both men`s and women`s tournaments were claimed by athletes representing Iceland, Scotland, and Ireland, underscoring the positive impact of international development support.
Icelandic duos delivered outstanding performances, with Soldis Sigurpalsdottir & Helena Kristjansdottir securing the women`s gold medal, and Emil Mar Diatlovic & Agust Leo Sigurfinnsson clinching the men`s gold. Iceland`s dominance extended to the women`s bronze, earned by Hrefna Marinosdottir & Audur Petursdottir. The men`s podium was rounded out by Scottish pairs Fraser Amundrud & Cailean McAllister and Aaron Gillies & Gabriel Caesar. Local enthusiasm soared as Ireland’s Holly Cassidy & Angela Mulcahy proudly captured the women`s silver medal.
The Foundation of Success: FIVB Empowerment
This widespread success is a testament to the strategic investment by the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program. The Icelandic Volleyball Association has received USD 94,500 for coach support across its national volleyball and beach volleyball teams, alongside USD 35,000 for volleyball equipment and USD 6,000 for beach volleyball equipment. Their teams train under the guidance of Spanish coach Borja Gonzalez. The Scottish Volleyball Association has been granted USD 126,000 for coach support for their national beach volleyball teams, coached by Rachael Gunn from New Zealand and Seain Cook. Additionally, USD 6,000 was allocated for a national team coaches` knowledge transfer program. The Volleyball Association of Ireland also significantly benefited, receiving USD 85,500 for coach support for their national beach volleyball teams and USD 12,000 for coach development knowledge transfer programs, with their pairs coached by Melissa Cupples.
Women`s Tournament Journey to Gold
In the women’s competition, Iceland`s Soldis Sigurpalsdottir & Helena Kristjansdottir executed a flawless campaign, winning all five of their matches en route to the zonal gold. They dropped only one set throughout the tournament, during their 2-1 (21-10, 10-21, 15-6) final victory against Ireland`s Holly Cassidy & Angela Mulcahy. Their path to the final included a 2-0 (21-11, 21-19) semifinal win against fellow Icelanders Hrefna Marinosdottir & Audur Petursdottir. Meanwhile, Cassidy & Mulcahy secured their spot in the final by defeating Faroe Islands’ Osla Johannesen & Maria Teresa Vitalis 2-0 (21-17, 23-21). The bronze medal match saw Marinosdottir & Petursdottir triumph 2-0 (21-15, 21-14) over Johannesen & Vitalis.
Men`s Tournament Highlights
The men`s tournament mirrored the women`s success for Iceland, with Emil Mar Diatlovic & Agust Leo Sigurfinnsson claiming the gold. Their dominant run included five consecutive wins, with their only dropped set occurring in a tight semifinal against Andorra’s Christian Ribeiro & Alan Mitjana, which they won 2-1 (19-21, 21-13, 15-12). The final saw them secure gold with a convincing 2-0 (21-17, 21-11) victory over Scotland’s Fraser Amundrud & Cailean McAllister. An all-Scottish semifinal saw Amundrud & McAllister overcome Aaron Gillies & Gabriel Caesar 2-1 (21-10, 18-21, 15-8). Gillies & Caesar then went on to win the bronze medal in a hard-fought 2-1 (22-20, 18-21, 15-13) match against the Andorran duo.
Championship Participation
The SCA U19 Beach Volleyball Championships in Dublin featured intense competition among nine women`s and nine men`s pairs. Participating nations included Andorra, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, all vying for championship honors.
Oliver Wrenwick 
Finley Blackwood