The Hague, the Netherlands, July 3, 2015 – Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas will go for their second FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour gold in a row, and fifth of the year, after they defeated fellow Brazilians Juliana Felisberta Da Silva and Maria Antonelli 24-22, 21-19 in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships 2015 semifinals in The Hague on Friday.
In a sizzling encounter, the two sides could barely be split. This was no surprise given their win-loss record against each other in 2015 is 1-1.
It was an exceptional first set, with many exceptional rallies dazzling the Dutch crowd. Barbara/Agatha earned a set point at 20-19, but an error gifted Juliana/Antonelli another chance. However a Barbara spike and ace earned them the opener.
It was much of the same at the start of the second as both teams fought for every point, desperate to earn a place in the final and a coveted Rio 2016 Olympic Games spot. In a repeat of the first set, the score reached 20-19 with Juliana/Antonelli calling for a timeout. But it wasn’t enough with Agatha ending proceedings and sending her compatriots crashing out with an ace.