Beach Shorts: The week in the sands of the world

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Dutchmen Robert Meeuwsen and Alexander Brouwer will compete for the national indoor title

Hello, beach volleyball fans. If you thought beach volleyball was already over in 2018 you are…wrong! This week the Netherlands will have its indoor championships and most of the country’s top duos will take part in. Remaining in the nation, we have news from Latvia and the United States as teams prepare to the first event of the 2019 World Tour calendar, in The Hague.

Find out more about this and much more!

Dutch play for indoor national title

Christmas is just around the corner but not even Santa Claus himself was enough to stop beach volleyball in the Netherlands as the country will have its indoor national championships this weekend in the city of Aalsmeer. Some of the nation’s top teams, including Olympic medalists Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen and European champions Sanne Keizer and Madelein Meppelink are set to play for the last time in 2018. Young talent Jasper Bouter will pair with Sven Vismans.

Here we go again!! After being outside for 3 weeks in Tenerife.. back to work on the indoor sand @sportcampuszuiderpark in preparation for the #Delabeachopen! Thanks to @gemeentedenhaag @dhtopsport and @sportcampuszuiderpark for making it possible for us to train here! #vanhiertotTokyo #keihardknokken #voorelkaar

419 Likes, 4 Comments - Marleen Ramond-van Iersel (@marleenvaniersel) on Instagram: "Here we go again!! After being outside for 3 weeks in Tenerife.. back to work on the indoor sand..."

Smedins nearing a return

Latvian Janis Smedins injured his shoulder in a bike accident shortly after the World Tour Finals in Hamburg, but the lefty seems to be ready for a return. The Olympic bronze medalist is already smashing balls, as him and partner Aleksandrs Samoilovs prepare for the first World Tour event of 2019, the four-star tournament in The Hague from January 2-6.

Janis is BACK! 🔨🔨🔨 We are working hard to get ready for The Hague, four-star tournament in January. #SAMSME

615 Likes, 2 Comments - Samoilovs Smedins (@samoilovssmedins) on Instagram: "Janis is BACK! 🔨🔨🔨 We are working hard to get ready for The Hague, four-star tournament in January...."

Casebeer and Zaun heading to The Hague

Speaking about The Hague, Jeremy Casebeer and Eric Zaun secured the opportunity of playing together for the first time in a World Tour event as they prevailed in the American country quota held in Manhattan Beach against Ed Ratledge and Avery Drost and are headed to the tournament in the Dutch indoor courts in two weeks.  

USAV Beach on Twitter

Eric Zaun/Jeremy Casebeer def Avery Drost/Ed Ratledge (21-19, 28-26) win the country quota match for the FIVB 4⭐️ in The Hague, Netherlands (Jan. 2-6).

Social Media: Jackie and Sandra honored in Brazil

The first women to ever win a beach volleyball gold medal at the Olympics, Brazilians Jackie Silva and Sandra Pires, who topped the podium at the Atlanta 1996 Games, were honored by the Brazilian Olympic Committee during the annual gala night of Olympic sports in the country as they were among the first four athletes to be inducted to the nation's Hall of Fame. Congrats!

No Prêmio Brasil Olímpico, inaugurando o Hall da Fama ao lado dessas lendas👏👏👏👏 Parabéns para o COB e @timebrasil pela linda festa e homenagens. #premiobrasilolimpico #orgulho#timebrasil #halldafama

537 Likes, 64 Comments - Sandra Pires Oficial (@sandrapiresoficial) on Instagram: "No Prêmio Brasil Olímpico, inaugurando o Hall da Fama ao lado dessas lendas👏👏👏👏 Parabéns para o COB..."

In case you missed it

Tickets on sale for 2019 World Championships

Doherty and Hyden get the band back together

See you next week!