York Lions teammates Adam Podstawka and Reid Hall are the 2007 under-21 national beach volleyball champions.
Podstawka and Hall claimed the title on the weekend of Aug. 25-26 at Ashbridge’s Bay in Toronto, winning every set in four matches to win the championship. The win comes on the heels of their victory at the under-20 national championship last year.
The 2007 title sets the pair up nicely for a European trip next week, which concludes in Modena, Italy, with the world under-21 beach championships, Sept. 5-9. Podstawka and Hall, who finished fourth in the world under-18 championships in 2004, will compete in qualifying to try to earn a spot in the main draw.
If they get to the main draw, Podstawka and Hall will notice a familiar face. Incoming Lions freshman Tom Podstawka, brother of Adam and fellow Lion Paul Podstawka, and teammate Sam Pedlow of Queen’s will represent Canada in the main draw at the worlds. Tom Podstawka and Pedlow tied for fifth at the nationals.
Both under-21 teams will compete in the FIVB Challenger tournament Friday and Saturday in Milan, Italy.
Several other York players also were at action at the national championships this past weekend. Paul Podstawka and incoming York student Chris Simek finished seventh in the senior men’s championship. York setter Jonathan Turalinski and Eric Kuld tied for fifth in the under-21 competition, while incoming Lion Philippe Charron and Matt Poulin finished third in Division 2 of the under-18 event.
Submitted to YFile by Mike Koreen, sport & recreation information officer in York’s School of Kinesiology & Health Science, Faculty of Health.