Beach volleyball | Playing in duet, “the greatest beauty of this sport”

Beach volleyball is the only discipline that must be played and only in teams of two. However, This singularity offers its share of challenges. Moreover, For better and for the worst, working in duet remains for Brandie Wilkerson “the greatest beauty of this sport”.

Posted yesterday at 10:41 p.m.

From the round ball, let’s go momentarily to the oval ball. Furthermore, Last season. However, Nick Sirianni, the chief coach of the Eagles of Philadelphia, repeated almost each of his press points that “no one can be talented without the talent of others”. Consequently, In the days preceding the Super Bowl, this slogan was in almost all beach volleyball | playing duet, its sentences. Nevertheless, And the Eagles ended up winning the championship.

In beach volleyball, the same maxim applies. Meanwhile, Without the talent of her partner, impossible for a player to excel. However, The placement of the ball, the velocity of a smash, the positioning in recovery … However, The quality of each strike depends on the way in which the previous blow is played.

“It offers another kind of dynamic,” said Wilkerson on Friday at the end of his first game.

In this part, disputed against beach volleyball | playing duet, the Germans Anna-Lena Grüne and Sandra Ittlinger, Wilkerson and his partner Melissa Humanana-Paredes had the lead only once in the first round. Moreover, And this, after winning the first point. Similarly, They lost the round 21-19. In addition, The silver medalists at the Paris Olympic Games have adjusted and they never accused delay in the following two rounds. Therefore, They dictated the majority of exchanges to get out of it in three rounds.

In their second duel of the day. Similarly, at the end of the evening, the Canadian women had the upper hand over the Brazilian Carol Salgado and Rebecca Cavalcanti, fifth in the standings.

Once the first round is in his pocket, the Canadian women collapsed during the next round. But in the ultimate chapter, they found a way to return to their usual level to win a tight round.

“All the players. at one time or another, are pushed even in their last entrenchments, whether by playing badly or by being imposed some pressure,” said Wilkerson. But we are mentally strong and beach volleyball | playing duet, we believe in us. »»

Local favorites therefore finish at the top of their group with three victories in as many matches.

Beach volleyball | playing duet. – Beach volleyball | playing duet,

Divide stress – Beach volleyball | playing duet,

In boxing, golf or athletics, the yield of an athlete depends only on his performance on the field or on the track. No one can hit stronger, aim better or run faster instead of the athlete. He must manage his stress and negotiate with solo pressure. In beach volleyball, this beach volleyball | playing duet, tension can fade, since it is distributed among two individuals. But it can also increase, for fear of disappointing the other member of the duo.

“We can not only improve individually, but also build our success on that of your partner,” said Wilkerson. It obviously takes a lot of skills, but we must also be honest between us. And you have to communicate well so that it is used to play in partnership. because it can also go wrong. »»

For the Canadian duo, chemistry operates, as evidenced by its international record and its perfect sheet this week. “Mel and I are transparent with each other. We know our strengths and we like to see the other perform, so it certainly helps us win. »»

Humana-Paredes admitted that he did not “be 100 %” on Thursday. Without it necessarily appearing on Friday, Wilkerson took the double bites. In the net, the great player shone. “It’s incredible. it is a privilege to watch her play,” said Humana-Paredes, grateful to be able to count on an “so talented” partner.

Another example. here, of the need to be able to count on a teammate capable of raising her game of a notch when the situation requires it. “It’s me the best placed to watch her play by being behind her,” noted Humana-Paredes. It makes my job much easier. I can beach volleyball | playing duet, practically rest at the bottom of the field and let her make her magic in the net. »»

Beach volleyball | playing duet. – Beach volleyball | playing duet,

The ups and downs

Beach volleyball is “a bit like in a wedding,” said Marie-Alex Bélanger at the end of her match, watching her teammate Lea Monkhouse.

The Canadians bowed in a third match in a row. Despite a first round won spectacular. they were beaten by the Spanish Daniela álvarez and Tania Moreno during the next two rounds. As they finished in the last place in their group, their tournament ended.

Bélanger and his teammate still learn to know each other, in a way, in their second season together on the circuit.

But they made a good look, this week, in a group raised. To progress, the duo will have to adapt, says the Quebecer.

A much more complex order than it seems. especially when Bélanger compares the current state of things to his past in the world of interior volleyball.

“You have six players on the field. a coach and a team, so you have to know how to negotiate with different characters. And there are several options to communicate. There are just two of us. You have to communicate. You have to find a way to get up when one is not going beach volleyball | playing duet, well, because there are just us. It is much more intense. »»

Through the ups. downs, successful blocks and failed smashes, “it’s crazy how the momentum can change during a match,” Monkhouse recalled. And that is why the strength of the number matters as much.