British pairs exit at pool stages

Britain's two pairs exited the beach volleyball World Championships at the pool stages without winning a game.

Zara Dampney and Shauna Mullin lost the last of their three group matches in Norway 12-21, 17-21 to Candaian duo Annie Martin and Marie-Andree Lessard.

Lucy Boulton and Denise Johns also went down in straight sets, 17-21, 18-21, in their final game against Austrian pair Sara Montagnolli and Barbara Hansel.

Boulton/Johns were ranked 44th of the 48 teams, with Dampney/Mullin 45th.

Boulton said: "We were disappointed to have lost all three of our pool games and not progress it into the second phase.

"But playing in the World Championships was an invaluable experience and hopefully the first of many for Denise and I."

There were no British teams in the men's event.

Results

Arvaniti-Tsiartsiani (Gre) 2-0 Boulton-Johns (GBR) (21-14, 21-17)
Ana Paula-Shelda (Bra) 2-0 Boulton-Johns (GBR) (21-10, 21-10)
Montagnolli-Hansel (Aut) 2-0 Boulton-Johns (GBR) (21-17, 21-18)

Branagh-Youngs (USA) 2-0 Dampney-Mullin GBR (21-14, 21-13)
Banck-Gunther (Ger) 2-0 Dampney-Mullin (GBR) (21-17, 21-18)
Martin-Lessard (Can) 2-0 Dampney-Mullin (GBR) (21-12, 21-17)

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