Ukrainian tandem Valentyna Davidova and Anhelina Khmil overcame a fierce second-set rally from Australia’s Taliqua Clancy and Stefanie Fejes to secure a 21-13, 24-22 victory and advance to the semifinals of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Nuvali Challenge on Saturday, May 23, at the Nuvali Sands Courts.

Davidova and Khmil controlled the opening set before surviving a tense finish in the second frame against the Australian pair led by Clancy, the silver medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics making her first appearance in this year’s Beach Pro Tour.

The Ukrainians maintained the upper hand for most of the second set before Clancy sparked a late Australian fightback. Australia erased a three-point deficit behind a 5-1 run that transformed a 13-16 disadvantage into an 18-17 lead.

The closing stretch turned into a dramatic exchange as both teams traded points under pressure. A double contact violation by Khmil briefly handed Australia a 20-19 set point advantage and pushed the match closer to a deciding third set.

Khmil immediately responded with back-to-back conversions to swing momentum back in Ukraine’s favor. However, Clancy and Fejes managed to save two match points to extend the battle.

The deadlock was finally broken when Khmil produced a perfectly placed drop shot to create another opening before Fejes misjudged the next attack, allowing the ball to sail long and sealing the Ukrainian victory.

Ukrainians stay composed

“It was a hard battle from both sides. We knew who we were going to play against. We knew Steffi and Taliqua,” Khmil said after the match.

“They’re such great players, and we knew it wasn’t going to be easy. But it was a great performance from us, and we had so much fun. We’re really thrilled that we managed to win,” she added.

Khmil delivered a huge performance for Ukraine and finished with 24 points in the victory.

The ninth-seeded Ukrainians will now face Team USA’s Madelynn Anderson and Alaina Chacon in the semifinals scheduled Sunday at 8 a.m. Anderson and Chacon advanced after defeating Brazil’s Andressa Ramalho and Taina Bigi in straight sets, 21-16, 21-19.

Lithuania’s top-ranked pair Monika Paulikiene and Aine Raupelyte also secured a semifinal berth after dominating Ukraine’s Tetiana Lezerenko and Sofiia Kurnikova, 21-7, 21-17.

Men’s semifinals set

The Netherlands duo of Emi van Driel and Mila Konink also booked a place in the women’s semifinals after sweeping fellow Dutch pair Nigella Negenman and Floor Hogenhout, 21-9, 21-14.

The tournament is organized by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation and the Philippine Sports Commission under the leadership of chairman Patrick Gregorio.

In the men’s division, Switzerland’s Julian Friedli and Jonathan Jordan advanced after surviving a marathon three-set battle against Austria’s Paul Pascariuc and Alexander Horst. The Swiss pair pulled out a dramatic 17-21, 28-26, 18-16 victory to move into the semifinals, where they will face Australia’s Thomas Hodges and Ben Hood.

Another Swiss tandem, Adrian Heidrich and Yves Haussener, produced one of the biggest upsets of the tournament after eliminating top-seeded Israelis Eylon Elazar and Kevin Cuzmiciov in straight sets.

Germany’s Philipp Huster and Sven Winter also reached the semifinals after rallying from one set down to defeat compatriots Maximilian Just and Lui Wust.

The Nuvali Challenge continues as teams battle for places in the championship matches at the international beach volleyball tournament hosted in Santa Rosa.