Dutch beach volleyball pairing Leanne van Vegten and 18-year-old Jill de Groot secured their second gold medal of the season by sweeping all four of their matches at the recent Beach Pro Tour event in Cape Verde, according to tournament results. The victory follows their earlier podium-topping performance at the Apeldoorn Futures in the Netherlands.
Van Vegten and De Groot Claim Gold After Hard-Fought Semifinal
Leanne van Vegten and Jill de Groot added to their international trophy cabinet by navigating a competitive 13-team main draw in Cape Verde. Seeded second in the tournament, the Dutch duo faced their toughest test in the semifinal round against fifth-seeded Spaniards Nazaret Florian and Carolina Fernаndez Da Silva. According to match reports, Van Vegten and De Groot dropped their only set of the entire competition during this match before securing a 2-1 (21-18, 19-21, 15-10) victory.
Following that tight semifinal battle, the team produced a dominant 2-0 (21-15, 21-15) shutout in the all-Dutch final against compatriots Elin Hoonhout and Kirsten Brоring. The win marks another milestone for the young partnership following their success at home in May.
Hoonhout and Broring Take Silver in Beach Pro Tour Debut
Elin Hoonhout marked her Beach Pro Tour debut with a career-first podium finish alongside partner Kirsten Brоring. Seeded 13th in the main draw, Hoonhout and Brоring battled through a grueling semifinal against third-seeded Norwegians Cathrine Hjeltnes and Julia Tennoy. According to tournament statistics, the Dutch pair clinched a 2-1 (19-21, 21-18, 15-12) win to advance to the gold-medal match.
While the final ended in a straight-set defeat to Van Vegten and De Groot, the silver medal represents Brоring’s second career podium finish on the Tour and an impressive debut performance for Hoonhout.
Did you know? Jill de Groot reached the top of the international podium at just 18 years old, cementing her status as one of the rising talents in European beach volleyball.
Florian and Fernаndez Da Silva Secure Bronze at Laginha Beach
Spaniards Nazaret Florian and Carolina Fernаndez Da Silva rebounded from their sole defeat at Laginha Beach to capture the bronze medal. Playing in only their third appearance on the Tour as a team, the fifth-seeded duo defeated Norway’s Cathrine Hjeltnes and Julia Tennoy 2-1 (21-18, 16-21, 15-6) in the third-place playoff, according to official match records.
| Medal | Players | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Leanne van Vegten & Jill de Groot | Netherlands |
| Silver | Elin Hoonhout & Kirsten Brоring | Netherlands |
| Bronze | Nazaret Florian & Carolina Fernаndez Da Silva | Spain |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold at the Cape Verde Beach Pro Tour event?
Leanne van Vegten and Jill de Groot of the Netherlands won the gold medal by winning all four of their matches.
How many medals have Van Vegten and De Groot won together?
The pair added their second gold medal of the season in Cape Verde, following their previous victory at the Apeldoorn Futures.
Who claimed the bronze medal in Cape Verde?
Nazaret Florian and Carolina Fernаndez Da Silva of Spain secured the bronze medal after defeating Norway’s Cathrine Hjeltnes and Julia Tennoy.
Join the Conversation
What do you think of the rising Dutch dominance in international beach volleyball? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and subscribe to our newsletter for the latest tournament updates.
Related reading