Dutch 'lucky losers' for the SWATCH FIVB World Tour Paris stop

(BEIJING, June 19) -- Taking advantage of a "Lucky Loser" berth in the SWATCH FIVB World Tour event, Dutch pair of Rebekka Kadijk and Merel Mooren won a second chance at this week's Henkel Grand Chelem in Paris on Wednesday, as reported by the FIVB website.

The Dutch women lost their final qualifying match Tuesday afternoon to Cristine "Saka" Santanna and Andrezza "Rtvelo" Martins of Georgia, but managed to return by defeating a team from Canada, thus winning a "Lucky Loser" draw berth and advancing as the 31st-seeded team in the fourth annual Henkel Grand Chelem women's Main Draw.

In their first match Wednesday, the Dutch pair played three-time SWATCH FIVB World Tour champions Juliana Felisberta Silva and Larissa Franca of Brazil. They won the first set 21-16, but during the second set, the match was stopped due to Juliana's right knee injury which occurred when she competed at the net against Kadijk. Kadijk and Mooren thus won the competition even though the second-seeded Brazilians were leading 18-15 at that time.

In the second match for the Dutch duo on Wednesday, Kadijk and Mooren beat 15th-seeded Stephanie Pohl and Okka Rau of Germany 21-13 and 21-16 in 30 minutes, thus becoming No.1 in Pool B.

Kadijk, who turned 29 Monday, is a two-time Olympian. She and Mooren are currently trying to secure a spot for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games before the qualifying process ends in Marseille, France in July. They currently have 1880 points, including 40 points added for the two victories achieved on Wednesday.

If Kadijk and Mooren manage to win one more match in either pool play or Thursday's single-elimination round, they will secure a ninth position for the Henkel Grand Chelem and get 160 more points for their Olympic qualifying total.