The annual spectacle of European beach volleyball is poised to captivate audiences once again, as the 33rd edition of the CEV EuroBeachVolley descends upon Düsseldorf, Germany. From Wednesday to Sunday, the Rochus Club will transform into a battleground for the continent`s premier beach volleyball teams, promising an event that stands to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, with every top contender confirming their presence.
Returning to Germany for the fourth time and gracing a fourth distinct city in the tournament`s most successful host nation, this year`s EuroBeachVolley brings together 32 formidable women`s teams. These squads have been meticulously divided into eight pools of four, each navigating a modified pool play system. The eight victorious pool leaders will earn a direct ticket to the coveted Round of 16, while the teams finishing second and third will face the additional gauntlet of the Round of 24.
The schedule is set for a week of relentless action: Pool play for the women`s division, alongside the Round of 24 matches, will dominate Wednesday and Thursday. Friday will witness the intensity rise with the Round of 16 and quarterfinals. The semifinals are slated for Saturday, leading up to the grand crescendo of the medal matches on Sunday.
As the first serve looms, let us delve deeper into the strategic landscapes of Pools E, F, G, and H, offering a glimpse into the teams vying for European glory.
Pool E: Parisian Pedigree vs. Rising Powerhouses
Teams: Clémence Vieira/Aline Chamereau (France), Monika Paulikiene/Aine Raupelyte (Lithuania), Linda Bock/Louisa Lippmann (Germany), Katerina Pavelková/Anna Pavelková (Czechia)
This pool presents a fascinating clash of established talent and burgeoning potential. France’s Vieira and Chamereau, fresh off representing their nation at the Paris Olympics and boasting back-to-back medals from recent Beach Pro Tour Challenge events, are undeniably in peak form. They are strong contenders for the top spot, demonstrating the kind of consistency that separates champions from the rest.
Lithuania’s Paulikiene and Raupelyte, also Paris Olympians, bring a potent combination of experience and a formidable blocker at the net. Their chemistry is a known quantity, yet they will need to be at their absolute best to challenge the French. Meanwhile, Germany`s new pairing of Bock and Lippmann, while still finding their rhythm, have showcased flashes of brilliance—their recent second-place finish at the Stare Jablonki Challenge serves as a stark reminder of their capabilities. One might say they are in the “learning phase,” but with a dangerous curve. The Pavelková twins from Czechia, reigning U22 European champions, are undeniably the future of Czech beach volleyball, but this tournament might prove to be a valuable, albeit challenging, stepping stone rather than a victory lap.
Should the French maintain their current trajectory, securing the top of Pool E seems a logical conclusion. The battle for the subsequent spots, however, promises genuine intrigue, with the Lithuanians needing to fend off a potentially inspired German duo on home turf.
Pool F: The Gauntlet of Consistency
Teams: Claudia Scampoli/Giada Bianchi (Italy), Niina Ahtiainen/Taru Lahti (Finland), Daniela Álvarez/Tania Moreno (Spain), Hanna-Marie Schieder/Karla Borger (Germany)
Arguably the most balanced and unpredictable of the eight pools, Pool F offers no clear frontrunner. Spain’s Daniela Álvarez and Tania Moreno, silver medalists at the 2023 EuroBeachVolley and fellow Paris 2024 Olympians, possess an inherent talent level above their pool mates. Yet, the fickle hand of fate, in the form of injuries, has hampered their rhythm this season, leaving a question mark over their current form. Their performance here will be a testament to resilience.
Italy’s Scampoli and Bianchi, a relatively new partnership, have already demonstrated significant promise in their brief time together. Finland’s Ahtiainen and Lahti, a long-standing top team for their country, recently earned a Beach Pro Tour Challenge silver, but their journey has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Germany’s Hanna-Marie Schieder, partnered with two-time Olympian Karla Borger, brings a wealth of experience, but their new team is still seeking to make a significant mark beyond Futures events. Proving themselves at this level is the ultimate test, and the home crowd`s roar might just be the catalyst they need.
If the Spanish duo can shake off their injury woes and perform near their usual standard, they remain the most probable candidates to top this challenging pool. The remaining slots, however, are anyone’s game, though the Italians` current form and the Germans` home-court advantage make them strong contenders for advancing.
Pool G: Ukrainian Ascent Meets French Tenacity
Teams: Maryna Hladun/Tetiana Lazarenko (Ukraine), Lézana Placette/Alexia Richard (France), Noa Sonneville/Brecht Piersma (Netherlands), Janne Uhl/Paula Schürholz (Germany)
Pool G features a Ukrainian pair in scintillating form, setting a high bar for their competitors. Maryna Hladun and Tetiana Lazarenko have been on a remarkable ascent since partnering last year, accumulating five medals on the Beach Pro Tour, including two Challenge event golds within the last eight months. They arrive in Düsseldorf with clear intentions: to dominate their pool and potentially make a deep run into the semifinals, perhaps even challenging for the podium.
France’s Lézana Placette and Alexia Richard, also Paris Olympians, bring significant experience to the sand. While they are technically superior to their Dutch and German counterparts, their 2025 season has been marked by uncharacteristic losses and a perceived dip in confidence. This opens a potential window of opportunity for the Dutch duo of Sonneville and Piersma, who almost unseated the French last month in Poland as they continue to refine their team identity. The young German pair, Uhl and Schürholz, will certainly benefit from the passionate home support, a factor that can sometimes defy predictions.
The Ukrainians are not just favored to win their pool; their current trajectory suggests they are serious contenders for a final-four finish. The French, despite their pedigree, seem to be walking on a tightrope of confidence, making them ripe for an upset if they don`t find their footing quickly.
Pool H: Reigning Champions` Defense and the Battle for Progression
Teams: Svenja Müller/Cinja Tillmann (Germany), Malgorzata Ciezkowska/Urszula Lunio (Poland), Daniele Kvedaraite/Jekaterina Kovalskaja (Lithuania), Maria Carro/Marta Carro (Spain)
The defending champions, Germany’s Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann, headline Pool H, and their talent and experience significantly outmatch their pool opponents. It would take nothing short of a monumental upset to prevent them from securing the top seed and beginning their title defense with a flourish.
Behind the German titans, the battle for progression unfolds. Poland’s Ciezkowska and Lunio, the 2023 U20 European champions, arrive on the back of solid Beach Pro Tour performances and are well-positioned to advance to the elimination rounds without undue stress. Lithuania’s Kvedaraite and Kovalskaja enjoyed a robust 2024 season but have experienced a slight cooling off this year. They will likely find themselves in a direct skirmish for the third qualifying spot with Spain’s Carro sisters, Maria and Marta, who are making their career debut as a duo in Düsseldorf. The novelty of sibling partnership on this stage adds an intriguing dynamic. The Lithuanians might have the edge in established chemistry, but the individual prowess of the Spanish sisters could prove a potent, if untested, combination.
While the Germans are expected to cruise through, the Polish pair appears set to follow. The true drama in Pool H lies in the fight for third place—a classic showdown between an experienced, albeit slightly inconsistent, pair and a new, individually talented, and highly motivated sibling duo.
As Düsseldorf prepares to host Europe’s beach volleyball elite, these pools represent just a fraction of the narratives set to unfold. With seasoned Olympians, reigning champions, and hungry rising stars all converging on the sand, the EuroBeachVolley 2025 promises a week of exhilarating competition, strategic plays, and unexpected triumphs.
