Michiel van Dorsten and Steven van de Velde will try to stop Mexico's impeccable run in the first elimination round on Wednesday. The Dutchies finished second in their pool in Apeldoorn, while Lombardo Ontiveros and Juan Virgen took everyone by surprise to top pool L with three straight wins. It will be the first meeting between the two teams.
Lombardo Ontiveros / Juan Virgen (MEX), 1st Place Pool L, Rotterdam
• Lombardo Ontiveros and Juan Virgen have been playing together since 2013. They are playing in their 18th FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour tournament together.
• Lombardo has played in 1 FIVB World Tour final fours with one bronze medal.
• Juan has played in 1 FIVB World Tour final fours with one bronze medal.
• Lombardo’s and Juan’s last Final Four was a Bronze at Puerto Vallarta in May, 2014.
• Lombardo and Juan are currently ranked 12th in FIVB World Tour points in 2015 with 1,920 points and 19th in winnings with $42,000.
• Lombardo and Juan won gold medals at the Norceca Beach Volleyball Circuit Toluca in 2012 (Toluca, Mexico), Aruba in 2012 (Oranjestad, Aruba), Guatemala in 2013 (Guatemala City, Guatemala), Cuba in 2013 (Varadero, Cuba), Puerto Rico in 2013 (Boqueron, Puerto Rico), Mazatlán in 2013 (Mazatlán, Mexico), Costa Rica in 2013 (San Jose, Costa Rica), Dominican Republic in 2013 (Boca Chica, Dominican Republic), and Boqueron in 2014 (Boqueron, Puerto Rico).
• Lombardo won the gold medal at the Norceca Beach Volleyball Circuit Puerto Rico with Ulises Ontiveros in 2010 (Boqueron, Puerto Rico).
• Juan won the gold medal at the NORCECA Maeva in 2009 (Manzanillo, Mexico), Tijuana in 2009 (Tijuana, Mexico), Jamaica in 2009 (Kingston, Jamaica), Nicaragua in 2009 (Montelimar, Nicaragua), Guatemala in 2008 (Guatemala City, Guatemala), Dominican Republic in 2010 (Boca Chica, Dominican Republic), El Salvador in 2010 (San Salvador, El Salvador), San Diego in 2010 (San Diego, United States), Tijuana in 2010 (Tijuana, Mexico), Manzanillo in 2010 (Manzanillo, Mexico), Guatemala in 2011 (Guatemala City, Guatemala), Chiapas in 2011 (Chiapas, Mexico), Cuba in 2011 (Varadero, Cuba), Puerto Vallarta in 2011 (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico), and Colima in 2011 (Colima, Mexico), all with Aldo Miramontes
• Juan is the all-time leader in gold medals on the Norceca Beach Volleyball Circuit with 23.
• Steven van de Velde / Michiel van Dorsten (NED), 2nd Place Pool F, Apeldoorn• Steven van de Velde and Michiel van Dorsten have been playing together since 2013. They are playing in their 5th FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour tournament together.
• Steven and Michiel are currently ranked 42nd in FIVB World Tour points in 2015 with 520 points and 41st in winnings with $7,000.
• First Meeting Between the Two Teams