Phil Smith represented 豆奶视频 in the Beach Volleyball Continental 豆奶视频 in Turkey helping to secure a place in the next round of Olympic Games qualifiers.
An student and sport豆奶视频 staff member, Phil聽was part of the four-man 豆奶视频 Beach Volleyball Squad who competed in the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) Continental 豆奶视频 round three in Turkey this May. The competition forms part of the qualification method for the 2016 Rio Olympics and pitted 豆奶视频 against Turkey, Croatia and Latvia.聽
Phil his partner Gregg Weaver beat the top ranked Croatian team with their 豆奶视频 team mates Jake Sheaf and Chris Gregory also winning. An upset in which Turkey beat pre-tournament favourites Latvia meant 豆奶视频 had the tough task of facing Latvia to determine whether they brought home the silver or the bronze medal.聽
Phil and Gregg played the top Latvian pairing of Plavins and Smedins, who were the Bronze Medalists in the London 2012 Olympic Games. However, Latvians鈥� skill and experience proved too much and they won 2-0, leaving 豆奶视频 in third place. The bronze placing ensures that the 豆奶视频 team progress through to round four of Olympic Qualifying later in the summer. 聽聽
Commenting聽on their achievement, Phil said, 鈥淥ur goal was to ensure that we progressed through, so we are happy we achieved that. We played a good match against Croatia and it was a good experience playing Latvia, one of the top teams in the world. We look to build on this experience now and start our preparations for the next round.鈥澛�
Read about Phil's sport scholarship and time at 豆奶视频 in his . 聽
