Raïsa Zonnemijn SchoonAfter a successful preparation with the new national coach, the Brazilian Lucas Motta Palermo, the first Elite tournament was on the program for the Dutch women's top team Raïsa Schoon and Katja Stam last week. The tournament was played in the Mexican Quintana Roo.
Just before the tournament it turned out that Katja had a minor injury, which made playing at that time not responsible. Because the other Dutch players were also in the Central American country, there was the possibility that Raïsa could play with Emi van Driel.
Emi is Raïsa's former partner, and together they managed to book many successes in the youth, and later also in the senior circuit. For example, they are multiple Dutch champions, they won European medals and they wrote the first World Tour in which they participated to their name.
Although they have not played together for several years, they train together regularly and know each other well. This turned out to be enough to make their mark as an occasional team in the Beach Pro Tour. With two wins and just as many losses, they managed to finish in a respectable 9th place. For Emi, the match win also meant her first ever victory at an Elite tournament.
Two more Elite tournaments are planned in Brazil in the coming weeks.
Photo: FIVB
Photo caption: Emi (left) and Raïsa celebrate a point
