Freddie Bialokoz and Issa Batrane's 2024 in review

There’s no better feeling in sport than winning a first title, so when Freddie Bialokoz and Issa Batrane clinched victory at the BPT Future event in Halifax, Nova Scotia, they were determined to savour it. 

Facing a team in Abrams and Pickett, who had beaten them in the earlier pool stages, not to mention a partisan home crowd cheering for the Canadians, it could easily have been so near, yet so far for the English duo. 

But they showed immense self-belief and no little ability to clinch a straight sets success and carry off the winners’ gold medals, sparking some special scenes. 

“Our highlight has to be the gold medal in Halifax, Canada because the result was a great step for our young team now working with our new coach Freddie Fairbairn,” said Issa. 

“But a big part of why it was such a highlight had to do with the family we created there in the Villeneuves. We stayed with them during our time and both parents and both their kids were an amazing addition to our team. 

“After the win we went out with the Villeneuve family on the boat. It was a long week in Canada so to enjoy the sunset and the sound of the water in the lake after all of this was perfect, especially followed by a fresh lobster dinner. 

“It was a great community out there with some amazing people in that volleyball landscape.”

 

 

Just a week after their success in Canada, the London-based duo had more success at another Futures event, this time in Poland, Warsaw. 

There, they lost to eventual winners Leitner and Pascariuc in the semi-finals, but recovered to beat Juchnevic and Vasiljev in the third and fourth placed play-off. 

The two BPT podiums have left the two players thirsty for more as 2025 looms large on the horizon. 

Bialokoz said: “We have been somewhat pleased with parts of our progress, but we still believe we are too inconsistent currently with our performances and have this hunger to continue to achieve bigger and better performances game after game. 

“Continued development of our core skills and our way of playing as well just continued growth of our culture are what we are looking for. We want to win with the community and the people.” 

In September, Freddie and Issa were invited to play in front of a home crowd at the Queen and King of the Court Showcase in Canary Wharf, London. 

After playing so much of their volleyball on the world stage in foreign climes, they relished the opportunity to play in the city where they do most of their training. 

“After Halifax, the other clear moment and memory that sticks out has to be playing at home in front of my friends and family during the QKOTC event,” said Batrane. 

“Not many have had an opportunity like we have in that, so it was truly a blessing to be able to do something like that.”

 

 

The pair remain ever thankful to the support network that help them compete at Beach Pro Tour level. 

A clear target for 2025 is to play to their full potential more often – and qualify to be involved in the worlds down under come the back end of the year. 

Bialokoz said: I would say a big factor of our success is the community around us who are there supporting but also helping our team. 

“From current coaches to previous coaches, training partners, friends and our families... They all have a part to play. But what we have achieved so far is only a small part of where we want, expect and are determined to go. 

“Our big target, of course, is to continue to improve and produce consistent performances at the highest level. 

“Along with that, we to qualify for the World Championships in Australia in November. Big targets mean a big year of work.” 

Images courtesy of @shootaquickset, Queen and King of the Court and Conny Kurth

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