Beach Shorts: The week in the sands of the world

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Brazilian three-time Olympian Talita Antunes is back to the sands after giving birth to her first son (Photocredit: CBV)

Hello, beach volleyball fans! How are you keeping up with the off-season? If that’s a comfort, the Brazilian Tour is up this week and World Tour veteran Talita Antunes will return to the sands after becoming a mother – watch this space for a recap on Monday. The week has also been newsworthy in the Netherlands, with a beach volleyball baby coming to the world and a top player having knee surgery.

Join us and find out what we’re talking about!

Talita and Taiana to play in the Brazilian Tour

The new Brazilian team of Talita Antunes, who’s returning to the sport after pregnancy, and Taiana Lima, are playing together for the first time this week as the country’s National Tour heads to Campo Grande, the city that hosts the third stop of the 2018-2019 season. Talita last competed internationally at the 2017 World Tour Finals, in Hamburg, where partner Larissa França and her claimed the bronze medal. Welcome back!

Brazilians Taiana and Talita share the same side of the court after four years in their National Tour (Photocredit: CBV)

Varenhorst has knee surgery

Dutchmen Christiaan Varenhorst is having quite the off-season as after splitting with Jasper Bouter the 2.12m-tall blocker underwent knee surgery. The Rio 2016 Olympian will miss two months and won’t play at the World Tour four-star event in the Hague, in the first week of January. Hopefully he gets back on time to compete at the Fort Lauderdale Major in February. Good recover, Christiaan!

Off-season is finally here!! Could not come at a better time.😅 For now holidays and recovery.🏖️✈️ #mycollectionofbraces #offseason #blijmetdela

457 Likes, 15 Comments - Christiaan Varenhorst (@christiaanvarenhorst) on Instagram: "Off-season is finally here!! Could not come at a better time.😅 For now holidays and recovery.🏖️✈️..."

American teams keep shuffling

The moves in the American beach volleyball scene, which started with the teams of Ryan Doherty/John Hyden and Billy Allen/Stafford Slick reuniting after enjoying some success in the 2017 season, continue as two new teams have been made official this week. Rio 2016 Olympian Casey Patterson will now pair up with former NBA player Chase Budinger while indoor Olympic champion Reid Priddy is the new partner of blocker Theo Brunner. After the most recent moves, two-time Olympian Sean Rosenthal and physical blocker Jeremy Casebeer are both available for new partners. Anyone?

American veteran Casey Patterson will partner with former NBA player Chase Budinger

Social Media: Meet Alexander Brouwer’s heir!

Alexander Brouwer had a very successful season as he and partner Robert Meeuwsen claimed three gold medals on the World Tour during the 2018 campaign. However, the most important moment of the year for the Dutchman happened last week, when his first son, Boas, was born. Congratulations Alex and family!

Tadaaaaaa!!!😍🎉 Boas Ole Brouwer 15-11-2018

1,582 Likes, 177 Comments - Alexander Brouwer (@alexander_brouwer) on Instagram: "Tadaaaaaa!!!😍🎉 Boas Ole Brouwer 15-11-2018"

In case you missed it

Sponcil and Claes target the Tokyo 2020 Games

Ranghieri ready to return to beast mode after knee surgery

See you next week!