World Championship and the Mr. Skyball

October 13, 2023

World Championship - Quarterfinals and Beyond

Tlaxcala is sizzling with excitement as the heat intensifies on the beach volleyball court. After seven days of top matches, we're on the brink of some major decisions. The quarterfinals are set to take place tonight, and the anticipation is striking.

As of now, there haven't been any major surprises in the women's division. All of the top-ranked five teams are still in contention, and it's highly likely that the semifinals will feature four of these teams battling for a place in the final.

Turning our attention to the men's side, three out of the top five ranked teams are in the hunt for the gold. NOR, SWE, and USA are making waves, and the Vikings from Norway (NOR) appear to have a relatively smooth path to the final. Meanwhile, on the other side of the bracket, the Swedes are gearing up for an intense showdown against the USA.

One hiccup for our European viewers, like me, is the game schedules that are not the most convenient due to the time difference. Fortunately, volleyball.tv provides the opportunity to catch up on the matches. But if you're like me and prefer the suspense of watching matches without knowing the final score, it's best to steer clear of Instagram!

Speaking of favorites, I'm still betting on Ana Patricia/Duda BR and the Vikings, Mol/Sorum. I'm curious to know your favorites, so drop me an email with your predictions.

This tournament has been nothing short of spectacular. The players are clearly relishing every moment, delivering incredible matches, showcasing unwavering commitment, and dazzling us with some amazing plays. It’s great to see that the game keeps evolving with those second-option balls, the jump sets, the fast sets, and the crazy blocks. Amazing what the players and their coaches achieved and continue bringing something new every time.

For those watching from the comfort of home like me, a noteworthy improvement is the sound quality. In some venues, it's been a bit challenging to hear the on-court action. In the last event in Paris, they installed microphones at the top of the net, near the referee, and the sound experience was incredible. We could even hear the player-referee discussions. If someone from FIVB or VolleyballTV is reading this, please pass on this valuable feedback to the right channels.

I'm eagerly looking forward to the upcoming matches. Best of luck to all the teams still in the race!

Mr. Skyball

In our last edition, I introduced you to the beach volleyball magician, Kristen Nuss. This time, I'm shining the spotlight on Adrian Carambula, Italy's "Mr. Skyball." He recently shared some fascinating insights in an interview on olympics.com, and I’m here to break down the wisdom of these extraordinary players.

Before we dive into Carambula's insights, let's start with the basics and talk about the Skyball service for those who may not be familiar with it. If you go to Wikipedia, you'll find the following description:

Sky ball serve: a specific type of underhand serve occasionally used in beach volleyball, where the ball is hit so high it comes down almost in a straight line. This serve was invented and employed almost exclusively by the Brazilian team in the early 1980s and is now considered outdated. During the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, however, the sky ball serve was extensively played by Italian beach volleyball player Adrian Carambula. In Brazil, this serve is called Jornada nas Estrelas (Star Trek).


Please go on and read the full interview [here]. Were are some insights that I liked:

“The word 'famous', it's a big word. I don't consider myself famous," he told Olympics.com ahead of the 2023 Beach Volleyball World Championships, with Paris 2024 Qualifying berths on offer. "A lot of people identify with myself. I know it's not normal for me to be 181 [cm tall] and play at this level. I'm not the fastest either. I'm not the skinniest either, so I know that I represent a big community and it does feel good. I feel a little bit of responsibility with that.

“I have the serve that all the kids love, because it's almost from a superhero," Carambula shared with us. "It's the weapon that I use to serve. It catches people off rhythm. They lose a lot of notion of where they pass on the court, and with that my partner is able to get involved up ahead and get a lot of blocks."

"At this level, for me to be competitive, I have to be different," he said. "Normal is not good enough at this level, so I try to stay strong with my identity. I know exactly who I am on the court and who I am is a creative player that uses his instincts, involves his partner to give me a hand whenever he can. I need that to play at this level, so there is no changing."

Video of the Day

A Skyball service is already something different, what about a mid-point skyball!?

Wishing you all the best,
VP