AUSSIES DREAM RUN AT HOME FIVB BEACH VOLLEYBALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS COMES TO AN END

Australia’s dream run at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships has come to a close, after losses for Paris Olympians Mark Nicolaidis and Izac Carracher, and Aussie young guns Stefie Fejes and Jasmine Fleming on Centre Court at The Drive tonight.

In a competitive two-set clash on Night 6 of the World Championships, Olympic duo Mark Nicolaidis and Izac Carracher battled hard against Germany’s Pfretzschner/Winter, who claimed the match in 2 sets (21-15, 21–17).

“We really loved being in this arena, this is now home for us, we’re both not Adelaide based originally, but we’ve moved here for the program and have been here for a few years now,” Carracher said.

“So to play in front of family and friends at what feels like home now, we’re really enjoying every single game out their and trying to produce our brand of volleyball and excite some people in the process and show people what beach volleyball is all about.

“It definitely hurts to not be able to go a little deeper [in the competition] and show that off for longer, but we’ll reflect on that and we’ll push forward.”

Despite the early exit, Mark Nicolaidis said the chance to play in front of a home crowd was something he and Izac don’t take for granted.

“It’s not everyday we get to compete in front of friends and family, we’re overseas for 5-6 months of the year, so to have a home event [in Australia and Adelaide], and  to have a crowd like this show up day after day, it means the world,” Nicolaidis said.

“I think that’s why we love the sport and why we play the game, for everyone else to be part of the journey as well, it’s a disappointing early exit for us but thank you to the crowd.”

Carracher also adding that the chance to have 9 Australian teams competing in the green and gold at the World Championships is an exciting insight into the future of beach volleyball in Australia. 

“It’s a really exciting sport, and for beach volleyball to be in Australia we’ve got a lot of young athletes coming through,” Carracher said.

“To have 9 teams at a World Championships, I don’t know if that’s ever happened for anyone from one country so that’s a pretty cool thing.

“All things are gearing up for Brisbane 2032 and Los Angeles [2028] is on the road on the way there, so it’s really exciting to see where volleyball is going in Australia and we’re really thankful to everyone who’s been around for the last 12 months putting on this event and making that a part of the process.

“It’s been an amazing one [event] for us to share with our friends, our family and the Australian beach volleyball community.”

Jasmine Fleming and Stefie Fejes run at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships has come to an end after a tough loss to second seeds of Brazil 0-2 (14-21, 18-21).

“It’s been incredible, coming to Adelaide, I didn’t really know what to expect…first World Champs, and first time playing in a tournament of this size, but stepping out on Centre Court on the first day was amazing,” Fleming said.

“The crowd, the atmosphere, everything was electric and I’m just so happy that Stefie and I were able to play some of our best volleyball out there in front of the crowd. 

“It’s just been amazing, hearing the crowd behind you when you serve an ace, and everyone is there chanting it’s just amazing and the fact that people have flown from Manly and from Brisbane to come and support us…it’s just amazing and we’re so happy and grateful for everyone who has come out.”

Reflecting on their first World Champs campaign so far, teammate Stefie Fejes says the exposure to top teams has been invaluable.

“It feels great, finally getting the exposure to play against some of the best teams in the world has been really incredible,” Fejes said.

“I think it just shows how much we’ve grown in the past couple of years and even just in this past year together as a team, and we’re really excited to keep pushing forward.”