The Hague, The Netherlands, July 2, 2015 - In a contest of unbeatens in the 2015 FIVB “senior” Beach Volleyball World Championships, eighth-seeded Jonathan Erdmann/Kay Matysik of Germany meets ninth-seeded Tri Bourne/John Hyden of the United States here Thursday afternoon with both teams playing their fifth-straight match on the sand at The Hofvijver stadium court.
With wins over pairs from Chile and Spain Wednesday evening in opening elimination matches, the Germans (Pool H winners) and Americans (Pool I champions) will be meeting for the second-time FIVB World Tour. Bourne and Hyden defeated Erdmann and Matysik in a three-set pool match last season in the Norwegian Grand Slam in Stavanger.
Podium placers at the 2013 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Poland, Erdmann and Matysik have now won five-straight matches in the prestigious event highlighted by the Stare Jablonki bronze medal win over Alison Cerutti and Emanuel Rego of Brazil, the Rome 2011 world champions.
With Bourne playing in his first FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship, Hyden has already bettered his 33rd-place finish in the 2013 event in Poland with Nick Lucena. By winning the German Grand Slam last season in Berlin, Hyden became the oldest player to win a gold medal on the FIVB World Tour.
Erdmann and Matysik are playing in their 62nd FIVB World Tour event and will be seeking their 19th international quarter-final appearance. The world championships are the Americans 16th international start together with four previous quarter-final appearances on the FIVB World Tour.
Tri Bourne / John Hyden (USA), 1st Place Pool I, The Hague
• Tri Bourne and John Hyden have been playing together since 2014. They are playing in their 16th FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour tournament together.
• John is the oldest player in the FIVB World Championships at 42 years, 8 months, and 24 days. He is also the oldest player to win at FIVB World Tour event at 41 years, 8 months, 15 days.
• Tri has played in 1 FIVB World Tour final fours with one gold medal.
• John has played in 1 FIVB World Tour final fours with one gold medal.
• Tri’s and John’s last Final Four was a Gold at Berlin in June, 2014.
• Tri and John are currently ranked 19th in FIVB World Tour points in 2015 with 1,700 points and 18th in winnings with $47,000.
• Tri and John won silver medals at the Norceca Beach Volleyball Circuit Costa Rica in 2013 (San Jose, Costa Rica) and San Diego in 2013 (San Diego, United States).
• Tri won the silver medal at the Norceca Beach Volleyball Circuit San Diego with Will Montgomery in 2012 (Chula Vista, United States).
• Tri was named the FIVB World Tour Top Rookie in 2014.
Jonathan Erdmann and Kay Matysik (GER), 1st Place Pool H, The Hague
• Jonathan Erdmann and Kay Matysik have been playing together since 2009. They are playing in their 62nd FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour tournament together.
• Jonathan has played in 5 FIVB World Tour final fours with three bronze medals and two 4th place finishes.
• Kay has played in 6 FIVB World Tour final fours with four bronze medals and two 4th place finishes.
• Jonathan and Kay have played in 1 Final Fours in 2015 (Bronze Moscow Grand Slam).
• Jonathan and Kay finished 9th in the Olympic Games in 2012 (London).
• Jonathan and Kay are currently ranked 11th in FIVB World Tour points in 2015 with 2,020 points and 10th in winnings with $71,000.
• Jonathan ($280,175) ranks 66th and Kay ($322,125) ranks 55th in all-time FIVB World Tour individual earnings.
• Jonathan and Kay won the silver medal at the CEV European Championship Final in 2011 (Kristiansand, Norway).
• Jonathan won the gold medal at the U19 World Championships with Marvin Klass in 2006 (Bermuda, Bermuda).
• Jonathan won the bronze medal at the U21 World Championships with Stefan Windscheif in 2007 (Modena, Italy).
• Kay won gold medals at the CEV Austrian Masters in 2008 (St. Pölten, Austria), Swiss Masters in 2008 (Lucerne, Switzerland), and Dutch Masters in 2008 (The Hague, Netherlands), all with Stefan Uhmann.
• Kay won the silver medal at the European Championship with Stefan Uhmann in 2008 (Hamburg, Germany).
Bourne/Hyden lead the Head to Head 1-0
• Stavanger Grand Slam, 06/26/2014, Pool G , Bourne/Hyden won 2-1 (26-24, 19-21, 15-9) (0:53)