Germans Ludwig & Walkenhorst top Antalya Open women’s podium

Antalya, Turkey, May 14, 2016 – Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst ended the historical journey for Taru Lahti and Riikka Lehtonen of Finland as the German pair captured their second FIVB World Tour gold medal this season and their fourth overall since forming their partnership in 2013 by winning the women’s title at the US$150,000 Antalya Open here Saturday afternoon on the BeachPark center court.

Seeded first in the 10th women’s event on the 2015-2016 FIVB World Tour calendar, Ludwig and Walkenhorst posted a 2-0 (23-21, 21-16) gold medal win in 39 minutes over the 15th-seeded Lahti and Lehtonen to capture the $11,000 first-place prize.  In the first event on the 2015-2016 international calendar last October in Mexico, Ludwig and Walkenhorst topped the podium in Puerto Vallarta.

FIRST FINNISH MEDAL

Lahti and Lehtonen’s silver medal finish also marked the first-ever podium placement by a women’s or men’s Finnish team since the start of internationally-sanctioned Beach Volleyball events by the FIVB in 1987 for men and 1992 for women.  In winning six of eight matches this week, Lahti and Lehtonen split the $8,000 second-place prize.

Ludwig and the 25-year old Walkenhorst, who now lead the FIVB series with the Fins at 4-1, captured their first world tour gold medal in May 2014 in China (Shanghai) with win No. 2 last July in Yokohama, Japan.  With the Antalya Open being their 30th FIVB event together, the pair now have reached the podium 10 times with a 4-3 record in gold medal matches.

“It was a good week for us as we accomplish lot in preparing for our next two FIVB events in Moscow and Hamburg along with the European championships in Switzerland,” said the 30-year old …

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