The Finnish duo overcame Brazilian powerhouses Carol and Rebecca in their second tournament match.
Finland`s Taru Lahti and Niina Ahtiainen delivered the most significant upset on the second day of the women`s main draw at this week`s Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Elite event in Hamburg. Their impressive performance on Friday secured them the top spot in their pool in Germany.
Alongside the Finnish pair, five other teams also remained undefeated in pool play, earning a direct passage to the Round of 12. The remaining six berths in this phase were determined later that day during the Round of 18 matches held at the Am Rothenbaum Stadium.
Following their initial Pool D victory in Hamburg on Thursday, Lahti and Ahtiainen faced formidable opponents in Brazilian Olympians Carol Salgado and Rebecca Cavalcanti, who are currently ranked second globally by FIVB. The Finnish team showcased a strong and consistent game, triumphing in straight sets (21-15, 21-19). This win maintained their undefeated record and advanced them to the elimination rounds as the leading team in their pool.
In the upcoming Round of 12, the European pair will compete against the German home team of Sandra Ittlinger and Anna-Lenna Grüne. Ittlinger and Grüne secured their spot by sweeping (22-20, 21-16) Americans Kylie DeBerg and Xolani Hodel in the Round of 18.
The German team had an opportunity for direct advancement from pool play to the Round of 12 but narrowly lost their second-round Pool B match to FIVB World Ranking leaders Thamela Coradello and Victoria Lopes in a tie-breaker (21-11, 15-21, 15-9). Consequently, the Brazilians progressed directly to the Round of 12, where they are scheduled to meet French players Clémence Vieira and Aline Chamereau. The French duo had eliminated Dutch opponents Raisa Schoon and Mila Konink in a three-set battle (21-16, 13-21, 15-11) during the Round of 18.
Reigning Olympic champions Eduarda ‘Duda’ Lisboa and Ana Patrícia Ramos of Brazil also emerged as pool winners, topping Pool E with a two-set victory (21-17, 23-21) over Germans Linda Bock and Louisa Lippmann. Their opponents in the Round of 12 will be Czechs Markéta Svozilová and Marie-Sára Štochlová, who advanced after a three-set win (21-17, 26-28, 15-10) against Estonians Heleene Hollas and Liisa Remmelg in the Round of 18.
Earlier on Friday, Germans Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann secured first place in Pool A by defeating Svozilová and Štochlová 2-1 (20-22, 21-15, 15-11). This home team will now face their compatriots Paula Schürholz and Lea Kunst, who had eliminated Ukrainians Yeva Serdiuk and Daria Romaniuk in straight sets (21-15, 21-19) in the Round of 12.
In the Pool C final earlier the same day, Schürholz and Kunst were defeated by Latvian Olympians Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova in two sets (21-18, 21-18). In the Round of 12, the Latvians are slated to play against Carol and Rebecca. The Brazilian pair, after their loss to Lahti and Ahtiainen, successfully overcame their compatriots Hegeile ‘Hegê’ Almeida and Vitória Rodrigues in a tie-breaker (18-21, 21-13, 15-13) in the Round of 18.
Italians Valentina Gottardi and Reka Orsi Toth, who topped Pool F with a decisive sweep (23-21, 21-16) against Vieira and Chamereau, will now compete against Bock and Lippmann. Bock and Lippmann regained their winning form in Hamburg with a three-set victory (19-21, 21-18, 15-10) over Czechs Kylie Neuschaeferova and Martina Maixnerova in the Round of 18.
The women`s schedule for Saturday in Hamburg includes the Round of 12 and the quarterfinals. The semifinals and medal matches are scheduled for Sunday.
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick