Issa Batrane and Freddie Bialokoz's 2025 in review

Playing 13 Beach Pro Tour events, they went into the festive season ranked joint 59th in the world (2440 points), along with Austria’s Julian Hörl and Moritz Pristauz. 

It hasn’t always been easy – life playing professional sport rarely, if ever is – but the pair who are based at Deep Dish Crystal Palace have relished the journey overall, and are keen to make further improvements in 2026. 

“It has been a bit of a turbulent year, but overall, it has been a relatively successful season,” said Issa. “We started the year slowly, but then managed to find a bit more stability in our set-up which then paid dividends. 

“We are looking to start working full-time with a new coaching staff from next year, with a bigger focus on certain technical models, as well as our biomechanics. 

“We feel like this, as well as the greater consistency in our approach, will be able to provide us with the level of consistency that has been missing at times for us to take a big step. 

“This, as well as being able to tap into some great volleyball minds, combined with continued work on the mental side of the game, makes us feel like we will be in a good place for whatever next season brings.” 

After opening their year with a 41st place finish in Mexico in March, the England pair then set their sights on China, and played four BPT events there in May and June, either side of a tournament in Sveti Vlas, Bulgaria. 

The trip to Asia brought second and third place finishes on the podium and added real momentum to the duo’s campaign going into the latter half of the year. 

Freddie said: “A high point definitely had to be making a couple of Elite 16 main draws this year, but also our first trip as a team to compete in China. 

“It had its challenges, but we really managed to connect more as a team and friends to move forwards and improve on the season more, as we won two medals.” 

After an August outing in Baden, Austria, it was a busy autumn period for the pair, contesting five tournaments in September and October. 

That included two Elite 16 events at Newport Beach (USA) and Cape Town (South Africa), before a third appearance in a top tier event rounded off their competitive year in Brazil. 

“It has been a good achievement for us to make two Elite main draws to end the year,” said Issa. 

“For sure, our big goal is continued improvement and establishing ourselves at that Challenger and Elite 16 level of the game. 

“We know when we perform we can compete at that level and, in all honesty, we are excited to get to work and see just how far we can go.” 

Away from the Beach Pro Tour, an undoubted highlight came in the shape of November’s Queen and King of the Court London Crown Series event. 

Not only was the star-studded tournament staged in their home city, it was held at their home venue of Crystal Palace. 

There was the added bonus, too, that they didn’t have to face the winter cold and wet as QKOTC took their concept inside for the first time in a history-making move. 

It was an occasion Issa and Freddie relished as they made their way through to the men’s final, where they finished in third place. 

Freddie said: “It’s always a pleasure and a privilege to be able to play an international tournament in England, let alone in London, and then even more special it being in Crystal Palace. 

“I have been training there since I was 14 and we have been training together there since 2020, so it’s safe to say that we have spent a lot of time there. 

“It was incredible to have what felt like the entire volleyball community come out and support an amazing event. A personal highlight has to be having our names, as well as ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’ sung between and during the rounds... it’s something I don’t think either of us will ever forget. 

“In the final, I have been told that the whole stadium was shaking as we made a comeback to make it to the last round. We have to say a huge thank you to everyone who made it happen, and we hope that something similar can happen again next year.” 

Like all high-performance teams, Issa and Freddie have a strong support network behind them to ensure they remain fit and ready to compete, as well as relax and develop away from the sand. 

“At this point we want to say a massive thank you to our team this year,” said Issa. “In particular to Lewie, Andre and David for showing up and helping us get better every day even when they had a 100 other things going on. 

“We’d also like to take the chance to say a massive thank you to all those who support us and continue to help us improve. 

“It has been a tough couple of years, with a lot of inconsistency and at times feeling a bit on an island, so to have our community come together at home and really show us just how much they back us means a lot. Showing continued improvement is truly down to the people who are there for us throughout. 

“We hope to make you all proud next year and we can’t wait to keep it rolling!” 

Images by Conny Kurth and Beach Volleyball World

Follow Issa and Freddie's progress throughout 2026 on the Volleyball England social media channels.