NEVZA Youth Beach Championships 2025 – day two round-up

They have proven to be the teams to beat - particularly in the Women’s U18 and U20 categories, where they have two semi-finalists in each.

Norway also had reason to celebrate after four of their teams reached the last four, while three pairs made it through from hosts England, two from Sweden and one from Denmark.

There was an upset in the Women’s U18 quarter-finals, as number one seeds, Molly Quinn and Lauren Thorn, were well beaten by their compatriots Tilly Hutton and Robyn Clifford.

The latter pair had gone into the match with a morning Round of 12 victory over Sweden under their belts and carried that momentum into their last eight match, looking sharper throughout to run out 21-16, 21-12 victors.

In the semis, they will face Norwegian pair Stine Finholth and Oda Skarland, who kept their impressive campaign going with a straight sets success over Klara Lau and Maja Sørensen of Denmark, prevailing 22-20, 21-14.

In the other half of the draw, another of the automatic quarter-finalists bit the dust as Denmark’s Maja Vestegaard and Mie Bertelsden succumbed in three sets to Iris Havulinna and Nelli Waldén.

The Danes hit back after losing a close first set to level, only for their Finnish opponents to pull clear in the decider to take the match 22-20, 18-21, 15-9.

Their countrywomen in the category’s other match found things more straightforward as Maisa Kyröläinen and Anna Laaksonen overcame Icelanders Sóldís Sigurpálsdóttir and Helena Kristjánsdóttir 21-14, 21-9. 

It sets up an all-Finland semi-final and guarantees the nation a silver medal at the very least.

The most eagerly-awaited match-up of the day in the Women’s U20 paired two unbeaten sides on day one as Sweden took on Norway.

In a close run match, it was the pair in yellow and blue, Emilia Saxne and Sanna Madestam, who just held the edge in each set to secure their semi-final place at the expense of Tale Fosseli and Sofia Mol (21-19, 21-19).

The Swedes then confirmed top spot by beating English duo Katie Tuohey and Daniella Tchandeu in imperious fashion (21-14, 21-3)  with an ace-laden performance.

Unperturbed, the number one-seeded Norwegians had already booked their semi spot with three wins on day one, finishing second in Pool B.

As expected, the top-ranked team in Pool A was the Finns of Peppiina Mäenpää and Ester Hirvonen, who won their one remaining match in the section against Iceland’s  Auður Pétursdóttir and Hrefna Marinosdóttir by a 2-0 margin (21-11, 21-7).

They were joined by their team-mates Milja Henriksson and Sara Tuominen, who ensured they won three out of four by beating both Sophia Chedgy and Shannon Baxter, as well as the aforementioned Icelandic duo.

The Men’s U18 tournament is coming towards an exciting crescendo, with all top four seeds still intact and looking good.

Number one seeds Teddie Almblad Engvall and Henrik Brus of Sweden encountered few problems in beating Ryan Wartnaby and Emmanuel Oretoye (21-11, 21-14) after the Englishmen had earlier battled through a Round of 12 clash against Iceland.

Also progressing through with a minimum of fuss was Finland’s Konsta Viljamaa and Niilo Kilpenen who cruised to a 21-9, 21-14 over Denmark’s Elias Broge and Sander Junge, for whom the former had bravely fought through the pain barrier in a Round of 12 win after damaging his foot in the pool stages.

Norway’s number three seeds Sebastian Kjermperud and Ludwig Ringøen found thing a little tougher as they were pushed hard by local duo Max Makowski and Josh Cosgrove, who really rose to the occasion.

But once the Scandinavians clinched the first set 21-17, they were able to close out the second in a more convincing style (21-13).

Joining them in the last four will be England’s number three seeds, Lewis Bunton and Luca Robinson, who have had to remain patient after injury to the Danish player yesterday meant they had faced just one game going into their quarter-final.

But it did not show as they comfortably dispatched the Icelandic duo of Ágúst Sigurfinnsson and Markús Arnarsson, easing to a 21-13, 21-14 triumph.

Denmark went into the Men’s U20 quarter-finals hoping to earn two spots in the semi-finals but, in the end, had mixed levels of success.

Third seeds Andreas Brinck and Villads Napier got the job done for their country as they overcame a spirited Tomo Iwata and Theo Plaza of England on centre court, 21-14, 21-7.

But there was to be no repeat trick for Villads Andersen and Anton Hansen, whose road was ended by Finnish number four seeds Veeti Viljamaa and Aleksi Hänninen, who took the win 21-16, 21-13.

Number two-seeded Johannes Ringøen and Tobias Pedersen booked Norway’s spot in the semi-finals as they accounted for another English pair in Lucas Rijvers and James Ingham, with the match getting easier for them as it went on in a 21-17, 21-7 progression.

The closest match proved to be the all-English affair on court 2 between number one seeds Stuart Perry and Max Carolan and Dylan Parsons and Zak Maghur.

The favourites seemed well in command as they took the first set 21-12, but back came Skyball’s Parsons and Cardiff’s Maghur to win the second 21-16 and then the decisive tie break 15-11.

Report by Matt Halfpenny. Images by Jon Cornish, Ewan Cameron and Matt Halfpenny

View the NEVZA Beach England 2025 home page here.

Follow the day two and day three action live on the Volleyball England YouTube Channel here.