Super Sunday awaits for Aussies Alchin and Johnson
The fourth day of competition in the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures event at Coolangatta showcased the round of 12 and quarterfinal action – with athletes needing to win to progress through to Super Sunday.
Australian pair Lizzie Alchin and Georgia Johnson finished top of their pool on Friday, sending them straight through to Saturday’s afternoon’s quarterfinal – where they were victorious over fellow Aussies Jasmine Fleming and Stefie Fejes in a three-set contest.
“Playing at Coolangatta is one of our favourite events for both Lizzie and I,” Georgia said.
“We absolutely love it, and we’ve got our parents here watching and supporting, which is really exciting.
“The weather gave us some challenges today, but that’s all part of the sport as well, and luckily, we came away with the win.”
“It’s a great event, and we’re super excited to be here this weekend,” Lizzie said.
“Coolie usually puts on lovely and beautiful weather, but despite the tough conditions today we are still super excited to be here.”
Although they are a new pairing, Georgia and Lizzie’s strong partnership and teamwork is highlighted in their attitude and on-court success.
“We are still a relatively new partnership, but we’ve found a way to really work together well on court,” Georgia said.
“We support each other, and we both just have a lot of fun out there, which makes it really easy to be on court with Lizzie.”
“Georgia is great to play with,” Lizzie said.
“She’s obviously very outgoing and upbeat, which makes her very fun to play with.
“She is very easy to bounce your own energy off, and she definitely held me in that game today.”
Having to knock out fellow Australian team Fleming and Fejes was a challenge that Alchin and Johnson would have rather saved for Super Sunday’s final.
“We were hoping we wouldn’t face Jas and Stefie so early in the draw,” Georgia said.
“We were hoping it would have been a gold medal match up, but because we know each other so well, sometimes it can kind of dismantle the strategic side of the game, because we’re both a few steps ahead and so it cancels each other out.
“But it was just a conditions game today, so in the end, we just seemed to manage the conditions a little bit better.”
“It’s always tough playing another Aussie team,” Lizzie said.
“They’re a great team and we wanted to match up a bit later in the tournament.
“It was a bit disappointing that the conditions were so tough today as it could’ve really been a great game of volleyball, but it’s always fun to play another Aussie team.”
With the Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide later in the year, today’s win and Super Sunday appearance gives Georgia and Lizzie confidence as they continue to work towards qualification for the home Worlds.
“Well it’s always exciting to play any international event on home soil,” Georgia said.
“Playing in Australia is always super special, and being able to put on the Aussie jersey in front of Australian supporters is so cool.
“Even to be playing at this level of competition it is amazing, so I just can’t even imagine what it’s going to be like playing in November with the world’s best.”
“I am super excited, this will be my first Super Sunday for a world tour event in a while,” Lizzie said.
“So super excited, and I think it’s a really good start to our campaign ahead of the World Championships and definitely gives us confidence before the international season.”
Super Sunday Draw:
8:00am – Yabumi/Kikuchi (JPN) v Star/Mumby (ENG)
9:00am – Alchin/Johnson (AUS) v Chacon/Chacon (USA)
10:00am – Lorenz/Rietschel (GER) v Bennett/Walker (AUS)
11:00am – Anyang/Schumann (AUS) v O’Dea/McManaway (NZL)
12:30pm – Women’s Bronze
1:30pm – Men’s Bronze
3:00pm – Women’s Gold
4:00pm – Men’s Gold
