May 10, 2005

British Olympic hopefuls win their first US tournament

British beach volleyball pair Debbie Spokes and Hedda Meijer took their first tournament win at the weekend beating top Californian women's teams.

The one-day event saw them on the beach at 8.30am in a pool of four. They won all three pool matches then powered their way through a 16 team single elimination knockout to the quarter finals.

Said Debbie: "We won the quarter final 2-0 and went straight back on court for the semi finals. It was a tough round. We won the first set, lost the second and were playing even in the third but not able to take the lead. So with a quick change of tactics, we picked on the other player, took the lead and won the match."

The pair went into the finals exhausted but totally focused wining the first in an unheard of 21-2. Said Debbie; "It was amazing. Our coach said it was the best result she had ever seen. The best she had seen before was 21-3"

As overall winners and after just six weeks in California, Debbie and Hedda have achieved AAA, the top ranking for the Californian Beach Volleyball Association putting them on the same level as the top Californian players.

The weekend's event was the Aloha Ball Club, Dockweiler CBVA Vollydolly Women's AA at Dockweiler beach near Venice, Los Angeles. Their next event will be the Women's Open at Ocean Beach on 21 / 22 May.

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Debbie Spokes and Hedda Meijer aim to represent the UK at the Beijing Olympics and are California for six months training with leading coaches and to improve their skill playing some the worlds top beach volleyball players.