Dutch pair Jon Stiekema and Christiaan Varenhorst won their country quota match against Dirk Boehle and Erik Nijland on Tuesday
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Agadir, Morocco, October 4, 2011 – Dutch duo Jon Stiekema and Christiaan Varenhorst earned a spot in the qualification tournament of the first edition of the FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour Morocco Open on Tuesday after they beat their compatriots Dirk Boehle and Erik Nijland in two sets 21-11 21-12 in just 27 minutes.
There was only one country quota match played on the beautiful beaches of Agadir on Tuesday. The difference in height between the two Dutch teams was striking with Stiekema and Varenhorst measuring over 4.12 meters together, while Boehle and Nijland are less than 3.6 meters.
“It was a very easy game for us,“ Varenhorst said. “We just hit the ball high and deep. They only won a few rally points, we had all the side-outs.”
The Dutch tandem was competing in their fifth qualification tournament this year but they are yet to make it into the main draw yet. For Boehle and Nijland the Morocco Open was their first World Tour event.
“We are just happy that we were given the opportunity to play here,” Boehle said. “But it was difficult playing against these tall guys. But despite our elimination we will stay here a few more days to train and enjoy the beach in Agadir.”
A total of 58 teams from 26 countries have entered the $190,000 single gender Morocco Open. It is the first time the FIVB Swatch World Tour has visited Morocco. Only one other African country has hosted a World Tour event with Cape town (1995, 2004, 2005) and Durban (1996) in South Africa welcoming the Tour.
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