Lithuanian belles rule World Beach Nuvali

MANILA, Philippines — Olympians Monika Paulikiene and Aine Raupelyte of Lithuania buried the United States’ Alaina Chacon and Madelyn Anderson, 21-12, 21-11, last night to rule the women’s class of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Nuvali Challenge at the Nuvali sands in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The sharp-spiking Lithuanians, who saw action in the Paris Games two years ago but did not make it past the group stages, stamped their class on the Americans, dominating the opening set then doing enough to take the next.

It was the first Beach Pro Tour title for the 31-year-old Paulikiene and 25-year-old Raupelyte after falling short in the Tlaxcala Challenge and Xiamen Challenge early in the year.

In winning the match, the eventual champs denied Chacon and Anderson their first crown as a tandem after snaring multiple crowns with different partners a year ago.

The power-hitting, 6-6 Raupelyte led the way with 23 hits while Paulikiene, a former World Youth champion, accounted for 10 points.

The Lithuanians made the final by turning back Dutch Emi van Driel and Mila Konink, 21-18, 21-15, while the Americans advanced after edging Ukrainians Valentyna Davidova and Anheli Khmil, 21-18, 21-19.

Earlier, Van Driel and Konink outlasted Davidova and Khmil, 22-20, 21-18, to end up third.