Mica Cup/ Single-Elimination Adds to the Interest of Matches

A new format using single round elimination unveiled more excitement as the main draw of the Kish Island 3-Star 2017 started on Thursday.

The second stop on the 2017 season of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour showcased Kish Marine Recreational and Sports Complex as an ideal venue.

Fans rallied behind their hometown heroes and went ballistic with a successful first set for Iran’s Rahman Raoufi/Bahman Salemi against Australians Durant Cole/Zachery Schubert.

Early favorites John Mayer and Ryan Doherty of the United States likewise succumbed after a 2-0 (21-19, 21-16) loss to Russians Maxim Sivolap/Igor Velichko. Germany’s Jonathan Erdmann, who completed a 2-0 (21-14, 21-19) win with partner Armin Dollinger against Czech Republic’s Ondrej Perusic and David Schweiner. They have also liked the new format in a way that less matches and less cost will make the number of more matches possible.