What a way to end the Vitoria Open

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Alison Cerruti shimmying the Center Court Net Photo Credit: FIVB.org

The Vitoria Open came to an exceptional close yesterday as World Champions Alison/Bruno Schmidt and Swatch Beach Volleyball FIVB World Tour Finals winners Larissa/Talita came back out on top.

World-class beach volleyball was played at Camburi beach and beach volleyball enthusiasts as well as spectators got another opportunity to see the biggest names in beach volleyball take the Center Court and play for gold.

The finals saw Italy’s Nicolai/Lupo challenge Alison/Bruno Schmidt in a grueling 37 minute match seeing the Brazilians win 2-0 (21-13, 21-18).

Alison/Bruno Schmidt played a perfect tournament winning every single one of their matches including beating the current Rio Grand Slam winners Losiak/Kantor, subsequently knocking the Polish out.

Playing for 3^rd and 4^th place was Italy’s Ranghieri/Carambula and Netherlands’ Brouwer/Meeuwsen where bronze went to the Dutch team after also winning 2-0.

Swatch World Tour winners: Larissa/Talita also came back out on top, taking gold at the Vitoria Open, breaking their 9^th place spell which held them for the Maceio Open and the Rio Grand Slam respectively.

The final game at the Vitoria Open saw Larissa/Talita go up against American power team Ross/Walsh – the current Rio Grand Slam winners, the two teams played for an intense 39 minutes, and the Brazilians won with what appears to be the magic score of 2-0.

Maceio Open winners Eduarda “Duda” Lisboa and Elize Maia can’t seem to catch a break, being eliminated from the Rio Grand Slam in the Pool rounds and only making it to Round 1 at the Vitoria Open.  Perhaps the pair will enter into the Xiamen Open (taking place from 12-17 April in China) and get their groove back?

Well done teams!