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Archeived news for 2001

Today we enjoyed the last day here in Fortaleza. We started with an early morning practice working on sideouts and setting. It felt that this week has improved our play - and playing is getting more and more fun. During the day we have watched great volleyball and we cheered for Maaseide/Glesnes and got a whole group of brasilians cheering with us, and we came on TV. Unfortunately Norway lost in a very exciting last set that the american team Schuster/Busch won 23-21? Then we also had the joy of watching the Netherland team make it to the semi finals. They played really well and it was a big achievement - knowing that Maaseide/Glesnes play very even with them gives good hopes for Norway.

In the afternoon we played a practice match against Austria. It was a pretty close match but we won 2-1. In th first set we lost 21-18, then we won 21-16 and 21-18. This shows that our play gets better and better. This was a great conclusion to this beachvolleyball stay here in Fortaleza.

H & S

The main draw startet today and we have a low seed so we had to meet the Brasilian team Pires-Minello - the team that came second in this years world championship and won the goodwill games. We acctually did pretty well in the firs set. We got 15 points. And our sideout was not bad. We are pretty stable receiving and that makes our setting much easier. It was also possible to win the attack on them so we were proud to get 15 points. In th second set they had a better serve and we got some more problems receiving. We got only 5 points. However we are satisfied with out attempt. We were in fact not called for our setting once and we feel that setting is the part we have had most progress. We also receive pretty good in the wind. We have had some very good days practicing here in Fortaleza.

We look forward to playing th next game against another Brasilian team. This team infact won the U21 world championship. Normally they will beet us, but they are young and if we are lucky ???

******

25th in Fortaleza

We were not lucky in the second match. We lost quite clear 21-9 and 21-7. The wind was very strong and everything was difficult. One positive thing is that they did not have many serv aces, but our pass was not accurate enough and the set was taken by the wind and we made many mistakes in the attack.

Still we think we have made signifiant progress during our training sessons here in Fortaleza. Setting is getting better and we have worked a lot on our passing which, even if we lost two matches, has shown positive results.

We will use the last few days to practice and on saturday we will go back to Norway with renewed motivation.

H&S

Finally we are now in Fortaleza. The trip took more than 24 hours but it was worth it. We are probably ready for the main draw since there are only five non-brasilian and non-american teams participating. Due to the country quota there can only be one more brasilian team and one more american team in the main draw so we are very lucky and happy. However, we will not belive it until it is official tomorrow evening.

Today we practiced with an Austrian team and it felt good to be in the sand again. We won 22-20 and 15-10 som that was a good start after having practiced indoor the last month. We are looking forward to the tournament and the next couple of days practising with teams from different countries.

H & S

Now it is finally clear that we are going to Fortaleza in Brasil to participate in the last women's World Tour in 2001. It has been a little uncertain whether we were going or not, due to both work-related problems and money/flight tickets, but now it is finally settled, and we are leaving on Friday October 26th, in the afternoon. This will be a great conclusion to our first beach volleyball season together, and a great booster for our motivation for further practice throughout the cold Norwegian winter... We are looking forward to a week in the sand under the sun, playing beach volleyball again without getting frost-bites (as we got last Thursday when we tried playing outdoors in the sand here in Oslo... It's getting very close to winter here now...). We arrive in Fortaleza early enough to get a couple of days of practice and getting used to the heat again, before the competition starts.

There are two other norwegian teams participating the number one norwegian team Maaseide/Glesnes and a new norwegian team combination Josefsen/Hansen.

H&S

The Norwegian beach volleyball season of 2001 was formally concluded this weekend, with the National Championship for Women in Skien, Telemark. We managed to qualify for the semi-finals and ended up 4th, which we are very happy about. 12 teams were allowed to participate in this year's National Championship for Women, and we were seeded no. 3. However, there were many very good teams and our goal this year was to reach the semi-finals, which we managed!
You can read an interview with us, and see pictures in the Telemark-newspaper, Varden.

Since we were seeded no. 3, we got a bye in the first round, before we met Tveit/Andreassen from Vikedal. This is a team we have met before and won against, so this is one of the matches we were "supposed" to win. We won the first set quite confident, but in the second set, the other team got back and gave us a close match. However, we closed the match by winning this second set 21-18. Next, we met Lekven/Evensen; a team we know very well since they also live and practice in Oslo. We have won against them several times at practice, but we only met them once in a tournament, and then they won a close 2-1 match after very bad play from us. Therefore, we consider this a team that we could win against. However, they played particularly well in this tournament, and especially they had a very strong jump-serve that was very difficult in the wind. They got a head start on us with her tough jump-serves, and this set our play back quite a bit, and when we had a lot of serve faults we never managed to catch up with their advance. We did not play even close to our best in that match, and then we can't win.

Next, we got a second chance to get to the semi-finals when we met Josefsen/Toerlen in the next match. We have played against this team several times and the first two or three times, they won close by 2-1 in sets, with 15-13 or 17-15 in the last sets. Then, 4 weeks ago, we met them twice in the Oslo County Championship, were we won quite confident both in the pool-play, and in the finals. So we knew we could win against them, but we also know that they are good players that have participated in several international tournaments. Also, one of the players, Cecilie Josefsen, lives half the year in Rio in Brazil, where she has the perfect opportunities for practicing beach volleyball. We played very well in this match, having fun and feeling confident throughout the whole match. We won 2-0, and felt confident all the way, even though they were getting closer in points in the end of the last set. This was our best match during the whole tournament, and we were very happy to have qualified for the semi-finals!
The next day, on Sunday, we had to meet the no. 1 Norwegian team Glesnes/Maaseide in the semi-finals. Well, we had lost before we started, but unfortunately this attitude also affected our play, so we gave them the victory much to easy. We know that we can give them more of a fight than we did in that match, but I guess the "underdog" feeling, and the seriousness of playing in our first semi-finals in the National Championship gave us some nervous play. We lost quite clear, but at least managed to get 12 and 10 points in each set.

Then we met Lekven/Evensen again in the Bronze-finals, and again, we must admit that they were better than us that day. They succeeded with great jump-serves into the wind, and we did not manage to play our normal good play. We lost quite bad, and are not at all satisfied with our play in this match. However, we must keep in mind that they have played together for many, many years and are very good and stable players. We have only played together since February, and this is our first season trying to play "seriously". We have accomplished a lot through this short time together, and we get better during every tournament we play. However, we need more matches, both to get to know each other, and to get rid of "nervous play". We also need to get more stable, and have many aspects of our play to improve. However, we have proven to ourselves that we can reach our goals, and that the tremendous effort we have put down in both practice, money and time, does pay out in results and progress in our play! We will get back later with our future plans, but will conclude that we are very happy and content with this first season together, and we are looking forward to the next season!

In a few weeks we will probably present pictures from Thailand and the National Championship so keep visting our web page.

H & S

It's been a hectic week since we came back from Thailand last Sunday. Both of us have been very busy at work and have not had time to update our web site until now.

In Thailand we were directly qualified for the main draw, which is very nice because the promoters pay for accomodation and food. In the first match we met Thailand (Pornipipat-Punsantiea). We did not know much about them but one of them was a very tall player with a hard hit and the other was smaller but very smart and stable. We started out really nervous and they got five points before we started to play. This gave them a lead that was hard to catch back and we lost the first set 21-19. The second set was also very close. Both teams won the sideout and we followed eachother all the way to 18. Then Hilde started putting pressure on serv and we won 21-19. We had a great fighting spirit and in the third set we managed to pull in the victory with 16-14. It turned out to be a long and close match but it felt great to win the first international match. They were obviously more used to playing in the wind, but we were patient and figthed hard in defense.

Next we only had a short break with time to eat a light lunch before we played against the Canadian team Boileau-Morin. They played very well and beat us quite easily in the first set (21-11). The wind was quite heavy during this match and we could not set finger sets and setting with bagger reduced the opportunity to win the attack. In the second set, we managed to play better but still they won quite confident 21-15. They were better than us in the wind, and they actually did very well in the tournament, ending up at 9th. They nearly won againts the American team that won silver.

Next we had to play the other Norwegian team in the looser bracket. They had lost their first match against a team from Thailand, and got a bye before they met us. We were very tired after having played in the extreme heat and the other team had rested from 11 in the morning while we played two matches in the heat. They started out with very offensive serves with head wind and got a solid lead 8-2 when we changed side. While they had aces on serve, we served out and we made a lot of unforced errors in attack. We lost 21-6 which is as bad as it could get. Anyway, in the next set we started playing beach volleyball again, and we played pretty well. However, the other team had an psycological advantage from the first set while we felt we were run over by a tractor. And in the end we made a few mistakes and lost 21-18. We ended 17th in the tournament and won 500 dollars.

We had a great time in Thailand. Even with over 30 degrees C in the shade, with partly sunshine and partly cloudy, the wind made it easier to handle the heat. But of course, playing in the wind is never easy. We have however learned quite a bit about playing in the wind, and we improved our play even during this one tournament. We are also quite happy with our results here in Thailand - winning our first international match felt good, especially since it was such a close match.

Next now is the Norwegian National Championship, which is to be held in Skien (Telemark) next weekend. Women's Championship is on Saturday and Sunday, while the Men's Championship starts on Monday. This will be the formal ending of this season, although there is one more FIVB World Tour in Brazil in October/November. We are ranked third now and hope to defend that position in the National Championship.

H&S

I arrived in Hong Kong on Tuesday, after a long flight from Norway. Even though we had great weather in Norway last weekend, it was quite a shock getting outdoors in Hong Kong where there is temperatures around 35 in the shade, and who knows how hot it is in the sun!! It drops to about 27 during night (that's the lowest temperature during!!) so in the evening it is really pleasant. However, playing in this heat did affect me a bit, although not as bad as for some other players. Both here in Hong Kong, and last week during the WT in China, some players have collapsed due to cramps and overheating (both the heat and lack of water and/or salt have contributed). I keep drinking a lot and eating salty food to get the water balance right. Anyway, I got a feel for it the first day here, when Heidi and I practiced with Susanne and Kathrine and we played a practice game on the main court with referees etc (test match also for the referees). We started the next day playing against Latvia, and we played pretty good in the first set, keeping close until about 14 points, then the heat stared to get to me, and with a couple of personal errors and some good serves from them, they won 21-15. Fair enough, they are a good team who work hard in defense and do few mistakes. However, I had really trouble in the extreme heat, and in the next set I was not "myself". I tried playing, but had no energy, and felt like I was barbequed alive out there on the field (it was around 11 am, and the sun was shining from a clear blu sky, no clouds to help shield us from the sun). Well, enough said, we lost pretty bad in the next set, 21-7 I think...

The next day we met the New Zealand team, and this is a team we could win against, and it was an important game. We had a bad start loosing the first 4 or 5 points, but got back and followed for a while, but lost the set in the end (don't remember the score though). Starting out on the second set, we were more offensive and won this set quite confident (confident feeling, but I don't remember the score here either). I was getting more used to the heat now, but also this game was just before noon in extreme heat and strong sunshine, but I can't blame it on the heat. In the last set we started out good and offensive, but then started to be afraid of doing mistakes when we saw that we could actually win, and I started doing some stupid mistakes. We lost quite bad, again proving to myself that beeing "carefull" and try to do few mistakes in a close game is not the best thing to do. Then you give the other team a chance to come back, and it is easy to start doing mistakes. Loosing this game was very disappointing. If we had played our "normal" good play, we could have won, but as an excuse, Heidi and I have never played or practiced together before, and especially setting is something a team need to practice together, to find out what the other person likes and wants. Now, after a few more days with practice, we play better together, but now we may never play together again. Well, we'll see what time will bring, but it has been very educative, I guess. Anyway, if we had won, we would have qualified. New Zealand lost thier next match, but got a "lucky looser" chance due to the country quta for the Chineese teams, and the team they played agains for this last spot in the main draw, had to quit during the match due to cramps (the extreme heat can give cramps if you don't get enough water and salt). So New Zealand qualified after only winning 2-1 over us. I have never been so close to qualifying for the Main Draw ever... And economically, it would have made a big difference, since Main Draw players gets free hotel, food and Prize money.

Well, too late now. I am adjusting to the heat, and we have had several good practices, both playing side-out and a few practice matches. And of course it is inspiering to watch great volleyball. Today, Susanne and Kathrine (Norway 1) played really good. First, they lost a very close match against The Netherlands, after really good play from both teams. Then they had an easy match agains Hong Kong, before they met Brazil 2! Sandra and Tatiana !! They played extremely well, and lost a really close match 18-16 in the last set. It would have made "history" if they won, and they were so close.... Both the two first sets were also close, 21-19 in both sets I think. They ended 17th, but with their good play, I think they had deserved better. But meeting Brasil that early in the tournament was not expected.

Now we are looking forward to the Challenger in Thailand, and I am looking forward to meeting Synnove again, she'll come to Thailand on monday morning, and then we will have some days to practice. And if it is as hot in Thailand as here in Hong Kong, I think Synnove will need those days to get used to the heat.

As you might understand: The weather here is great (when you don't have to play in it), we have good practice and are enjoying ourselves here in Hong Kong!!

This weekend we played the Oslo County championship at Torshov. There were 8 female teams participating. We were divided into two groups and we won our group quite confident. We were quite happy to beet Josefsen /Tørlen after having played some close matches against them earlier in China (lost 15-13) and Nordic open (lost 17-15). In the semi-finals we met our previous partners Hoem/Høsøien and we beet them quite confident 2-0. In the other semi-finals Josefsen and Tørlen played against the first ranked team Haakedal/Hansen and won 2-1 in a very close match. In the finals we met Josefsen/Tørlen again and the first set was very close. They won 22-20. In the next set we vere able to fight back and we won 21-12. In the third set we got an early lead and switched at 13-7. They got some points in a row but we managed to win 15-12.

This was a great victory for us. We won with most of the best norwegian teams participated. Now it is only three weeks until the Norwegian Championship in Skien. In the meantime Hilde plays the world tour with Heidi Byberg in Hong Kong and on sunday I will meet Hilde in Bankok to play a FIVB Challenger in Pattaya. We are directly qualified for the main draw and hope to earn some valuable points.

S&H

Sorry that we haven't updated our news page in a while. We have both had a lot to do and we are not happy with the latest news so I guess we haven't eagered to get it out either. We ended fourth in Vikedal after losing two close matches. The semi-finals we lost 15-13 in the third set agaist Dalen/Leite. We were really disappointed not reaching the finals after winning the first set quite confident. However we will have to learn to forget the disappointment entering a new match because lately we have played the next matches absolutely with no enthusiasm. In the bronse finals the other team got 11-3 before we started playing. In the next set we woke up and won confident. We lost the third set 17-15.

We have lost a few close matches lately and we have to learn to ignore the score and play normally no matter what the scoreboard says. We tend to become very careful when the sets are close. We will have to work on that.

Next weekend we will play the county championship in Oslo. Hilde will leave for Hong Kong on monday to play the world tour with Heidi Byberg. Hopefully they will earn some valuable points there. The next weekend Hilde and I will play a FIVB Challenger in Thailand. We are directly qualified for the main draw....

S&H

This weekend we participated in the ranking tournament in Karmøy at the west coast of Norway. There were nine female teams participating and we were divided into two groups on Saturday. There were five teams in our gruop so we had to play four matches. We won all these four matches quite confident 2-0. One of the matches we infact won 21-4 and 21-5. In the other matches the sets ended between 21-6 to 21-12. It was great to see that we make fewer mistakes now and that we are able to win as much as 21-5, 21-4, and 21-6.

On Sunday our play was quite different. The first match on sunday morning we lost agaist an unknown team for us. They got a lot of aces on serv but still we had a good side-out play. We made too many mistakes on serv and they won two quite close sets. The next match we played against one of the teams we had beaten confidently on saturday but this time the match was a lot closer, still, we won 2-1. The next match also continued with average play. We played against the same team as we played the finals against in Hammerfest. We won the first set and they won the next. The third set ended 15-13 in favor of them. Loosing this match we ended third and were quite dissapointed - but we are still happy with our play on saturday. We have learned a few lessons from the matches on sunday and hope that we will play better next time.

This weekend we will play the danish tour again in Hornbæk.You can follow the results on DVBF's web page.

S&H

This weekend we participated in the norwegian tour in Hammerfest. We were ranket first in this tournament because the best norwegian team (Glesnes/Maaseide) was in Marseille to play the World tour there. Beeing ranket number one, we got a bye in the first round. In the second round we played against a local team from Hammerfest. We won quite confident 2-0. This was the only match we played on saturday. In the evening we had a beautiful boat trip to a fish farm - arranged by some of the sponsors. We had a very good salmon-dinner and on the way back we could enjoy the beautiful view and of course the midnight sun.

Sunday morning we played the semi-finals against Evensen/Christoffersen. This team does not normally play together and we therefore had an advantage. We won 2-0. In the finals we met our previous partners Hoem/Høsøien. We often practice with them and therfore we know them very well. We have won all practice matches against them this year and therfore we had an advantage. However it is difficult to play finals in tournaments and we were a bit nervous and played very tender. Even so, we won the first set 21-12. The next set we lost 21-12.We served very carefully and we also had a very careful attack so it was easy for them to score some points. In the last set we won 15-10. To check out other results go to the official home page of Arctic Open.

It was great to win this tournament. We now see that we have benefitted from the international tournaments and we have become much more stable and make fewer mistakes. Now we win the close matches and stay calm until the very end. Next weeken we will play a ranking tournamet in Karmøy and hopefully there are many teams partcicpating so that we can play a lot of matches there.

S&H

more news from 2001