Leaf Represents England at Confederation Cup
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Miami volleyball standout Savanah Leafhas transitioned from the hardwood to the sand this summer, representing England in Round 1 of the 2014 CEV Continental Cup.
Leaf is representing her country on the beach volleyball circuit just two summers after she was a member of Team Great Britain in the 2012 London Olympics. Playing on home sand in Bournemouth, England, the Leaf paired with Zara Dampney to form one of two English teams that competed in Pool D of the Continental Cup. The two-day event featured England, Sweden, Slovakia and Ireland competing to advance to Round 3 of the Continental Cup.
England opened against Slovakia on Saturday with Leaf and Dampney facing off against the Slovakian pair of Andrea Krskova and Nina Herelova. The English duo dropped the first set, 21-17, before rallying back to take the second set, 24-22. Leaf and Dampney closed out the decisive third set, 15-13, to give England a 1-0 lead.
A Slovakia victory over the other English pair evened the score at 1-1, sending the duo back to the sand for a golden match against Krskova and Herelova. Leaf and Dampney cruised in straight sets, 21-19, 21-12, to send England in the final match-up against Sweden on Sunday.
Leaf and Dampney faced Sweden’s Camilla Nilsson and Tadva Yoken in a must-win situation. With England down 1-0, the duo of Leaf and Dampney stepped up to secure a victory in two sets and send the 1st place final to a golden match playoff against Sweden’s Nina Grawender and Karin Lundqvist. Leaf and Dampney battled, but fell to the Swedes in three sets (15-21, 21-16, 18-16).
With Sweden advancing to Round 3 as the Pool D winners, England battled Slovakia for the second automatic qualifier spot. Leaf and Dampney won their opening match, 2-0, over Krskova and Herelova, but Slovakia defeated the other English pair to send the two countries to a golden match playoff.
While England prevailed in Saturday’s golden match against Slovakia, Leaf and Dampney could not defeat the duo of Tina Turnerova and Gabriela Tomasekova in Sunday’s golden match playoff, falling in straight sets (21-13, 21-17). Slovakia secured the final automatic qualifying spot to Round 3 out of Pool D, while England and Ireland will continue in Round 2.
An All-ACC first team selection following the 2013 season, Leaf will be a key member of the 2014 Hurricanes. The rising senior led Miami in kills and digs a year ago and will look to build off her standout junior season and help get the Canes back to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive season.
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