Cyprus 2009 - Jeux des petits états européens - XIII Games of the Small States of Europe - Cyprus is teh Big Beach Volleyball winner

The Great coach Emmanouil Roumeliotis with Mariota Aggelopoulou & Manolina Constantinou

(source photos: cyprus2009)

Mariota Aggelopoulou & Manolina Constantinou

(source photos: cyprus2009)

Cyprus' Mariota Aggelopoulou and Manolina Constantinou were soaking up the applause on Friday after defeating Monaco in the final of the Women's Beach Volleyball final in Limassol.

The hosts took the game to gold medal holders Monaco winning 2-0 and erupted into celebrations on the sand in front of around 800 home supporters after the game.

Teenagers Aggelopoulou and Constantinou, who were undefeated throughout the XIII Games of the Small States of Europe, sailed past the challenge of Magalie Muratore and Caroline Van Klaveren in the first set 21-12 before continuing to dominate in the second set to win 21-18.

Third place and the bronze medal went to Luxembourg’s Norma Zambon and Jeanne Schneider who beat Bettina Mahr and Petra Walser of Liechtenstein 2-0 (23-21, 21-14) in the playoff encounter which lasted 40 minutes.

On the Men's Tournament, Cypriots Georgios Platritis and Paris Christofi were crowned 'Kings of the Beach" at the XIII Games of the Small States of Europe, here today. They won the Beach Volleyball gold medal by beating San Marino (Alfredo Tabarini / Francesco Tabarini) 2-0 in the final.

The first set was very competitive and the team of San Marino went ahead with 12-9. But the Cypriots came from behind to win the set by 21-17.

San Marino had the better start in the 2nd set also and lead the score by 4-0 and 6-3. But again the Cypriot players had more confidence and went on to win the set by 21-13.

Andorran Xavier Felguera Strung / Christian Salvador Campillo) won the bronze medal, defeating Monaco Frank Gopsevic / Thomas Widiez 2-0.(21-14, 21-17).