Ukraine’s Anhelina Khmil and Valentyna Davidova defeated Australia’s Taliqua Clancy and Stefanie Fejes to reach the semifinals of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Nuvali Challenge on Saturday.
The Ukrainian pair won 21-13, 24-22 in quarterfinal play at Nuvali Sands Courts in Santa Rosa, Laguna. They had earlier beaten Americans Alexis Durish and Audrey Koenig in the round of 16.
Khmil said the heat made conditions difficult but noted that all players faced the same challenge. She added that the team was thrilled to reach the semifinals and planned to give their best effort against Madelyne Anderson and Alaina Chacon.
In the men’s division, Latvia’s Ardis Bedritis and Arturs Rinkevics defeated second-seeded Americans Chase Budinger and Trevor Crabb 22-20, 21-18 to advance to the quarterfinals. Rinkevics described the match as a survival game in the extreme heat.