Lochhead and Pitman won their first match against Georgia, and then lost to the Olympic Champions, Brazil in the FIVB Beach Volley World Tour event in Barcelona, Spain.
New Zealand Beach Volleyball Team of Kirk Pitman and Jason Lochhead continued their quest for qualification to the 2008 Beijing Olympics in Barcelona, Spain with one win and one loss in the ‘Main Draw’ and now face a Brazilian team in their next elimination match.
Lochhead and Pitman’s first match of the day was their elimination match against the Georgian Team of Geor and Gia. This was the fourth meeting of the two teams, with the Georgian team winning the first 2, and Pitman and Lochhead winning their last meeting in Brazil in 2007. The Georgians have an Olympic ranking of 13, and a guaranteed spot at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The Kiwis started the match well, dominating from the outset. They strolled through the first set playing errorless beach volleyball to take it 21-15. The second set was even more convincing winning 21-10, and the match 2-0.
The second match was against the reigning Olympic Champions of Ricardo and Emmanuel of Brazil. This was always going to be tough, as the number one seeded team in the World have been at the top of the sport for several years.
It a close first set Lochhead and Pitman scrambled well, and got some good blocks on the large Ricardo. The Brazilians though pulled away at the end of the set to win 21-18. The second set saw the Brazilians continue where they left off in the first set. They comfortable won the 2nd set 21-14, and the match 2-0. Lochhead and Pitman now play the young Brazilian team of Bruno and Maciel to move to 13th position in the tournament.
Results
Geor-Gia GEO Lost to Lochhead-Pitman NZL 0-2 (15-21, 10-21) 0:39
Ricardo-Emanuel BRA Defeated Lochhead-Pitman NZL 2-0 (21-18, 21-14) 0:42
Rapids Volleyball 