Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
BLOCK PARTY ON THE BEACH
Fort Lauderdale hosts Swatch Major Series
The Federation Internationale de Volleyball World Tour returns to Fort Lauderdale after two years, marking the federation’s 30th anniversary. Kim Dicello, left, and Emily Stockman of team USA lost to Jolien Sinnema, right, and Joy Stubbe of the Netherlands in a qualifying match Wednesday.
FORT LAUDERDALE — Beyond the shadow of Center Court’s 4,500 seats and yards away from the Atlantic Ocean, continuous electronic dance music pumps into Fort Lauderdale beach. The music fades across sunbathers, beachgoers and five side courts, providing professional beach volleyball’s fun-loving atmosphere and signaling the sport’s return to South Florida.
Fort Lauderdale Beach Park is hosting the Swatch Major Series’ first tournament of the year, started by Tuesday’s qualifying rounds and running through Sunday’s finals, and featuring many Olympians from last summer’s games in Brazil.
The Fort Lauderdale major brings the world’s best players back here for the first time since fall 2015. General admission is free, though VIP packages are available. The Swatch Major Series will make additional stops this year in Croatia, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and a location not yet announced.
“We are so happy to be here. It’s the best spot on the East Coast,” said Hannes Jagerhofer, CEO of the Swatch Major Series.
The tournament will feature the top-ranked American team and 2016 Olympic bronze medalists Kerri Walsh-Jennings and April Ross on the women’s side. German gold medalist Kira Walkenhorst will play with a new partner, as will Brazilian silver medalists Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas.
On the men’s side, Cooper City native Nick Lucena will play with Phil Dalhausser as the tournament’s No. 3 seed. They will try
“We are so happy to be here. It’s the best spot on the East Coast.”
Hannes
Jagerhofer, CEO of the Swatch Major Series
to knock off Brazilian gold medalists Alison Cerutti and Bruno Schmidt, and Italian silver medalists Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo.
Lucena and Dalhausser finished fifth in last year’s Olympics but enter Fort Lauderdale fresh off an exhibition victory over Alison and Bruno in Brazil last weekend in the Giants of the Beach event. Lucena and Dalhausser were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Alison and Bruno in Rio de Janeiro and have now split six matches against the Brazilians. (Alison and Bruno beat Lucena and Dalhausser in the final of the 2015 event in Fort Lauderdale.)
“They’re the best team in the world, I think,” Lucena said. “It’s fun. We’re capable of beating them, and they can beat us. But the World Tour in general, there’s so many teams. It’s the highest level I’ve ever seen in my career.”
After the Olympics, Lucena and Dalhausser competed in a few tournaments before unwinding in the offseason. Lucena said he spent the time off relaxing and enjoying Florida State football, not even touching a volleyball until January. This week’s tournament is a relatively early start for the sport, but South Florida’s climate makes it possible.
“The weather during this time of year in Florida is the best,” Lucena said. “It’s kind of a perfect way to start the year.”
Lucena said he expects his family to attend the tournament, especially once the weekend arrives.
Jagerhofer said the organization once looked into holding the event on Miami Beach but ultimately decided on Fort Lauderdale. He cited as positives the size of the beach, the spot at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park and its proximity to the city.
The tournament awards $600,000 in prize money and will stage matches at night for the first time in Swatch Major Series history. Night matches will run from 6 to about 9:30 p.m. today, Thursday and Friday.
Matches under the lights became a fixture last summer in Rio.
“It’s different than a day match,” Jagerhofer said. “You have to get the experience. It’s something different. For people here on vacation, it’s awesome. After dinner, they just walk around a little bit and they have a chance to watch some exciting games.”
Both the men and women will hold pool play today and Thursday, with 24 teams advancing to the knockout stage. The men’s semifinals and medal matches will be Saturday; the women’s Sunday.