Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour
US$300,000 BPT Elite 16 Ostrava
June 5 - 9, 2024
(8) Samuele Cottafava/Paolo Nicolai, Italy
 
Samuele Cottafava
Italy
Photo: FIVB
Personal Info
Birth Date: Nov 1, 1998 (27 yrs old)
Home Town: Modena
Height: 193 cm (6'4")
Weight: 82 kg (180 lb)
Seasons: 7
Tournaments: 63
Career Wins: 4
Career Winnings: US$188,281.39
Paolo Nicolai
Italy
Photo: FIVB
Personal Info
Birth Date: Aug 6, 1988 (37 yrs old)
Home Town: Ortona
Height: 203 cm (6'8")
Weight: 91 kg (200 lb)
Seasons: 19
Tournaments: 154
Career Wins: 6
Career FIVB WT Wins: 4
Career Winnings: US$705,037.50
Awards
  • Most Improved Player 2012
  • Best Offensive Player 2014
  • Best Blocker 2016
Team Career Summary 
TourPlayed1234579131725Money
FIVB3413328011330 US$319,750.00
Previous Ostrava Results 
YearPartner - ResultPartner - Result
2018 Did not play Daniele Lupo - 9th
2021 Jakob Windisch - 17th Daniele Lupo - 5th
2022 Paolo Nicolai - 9th Samuele Cottafava - 9th
2023 Paolo Nicolai - 17th Samuele Cottafava - 17th
Recent Results 
TourDateTournamentSeedFinishPointsMoney
FIVB 5/22-26/2024 BPT Elite16 Espinho 7 9th 600 US$6,000.00
FIVB 4/17-21/2024 Elite16 Tepic 6 13th 460 US$5,000.00
FIVB 3/5-9/2024 Elite16 Doha 4 5th 760 US$8,000.00
FIVB 12/6-9/2023 BPT Finals Doha 2023 8 5th 0 US$20,000.00
FIVB 11/22-26/2023 Elite16 Joao Pessoa 5 2nd 1100 US$20,000.00
FIVB 10/6-15/2023 Beach Volleyball World Championships 8 9th 800 US$11,000.00
FIVB 9/27-10/1/2023 Elite16 Paris 6 5th 760 US$8,000.00
FIVB 8/16-20/2023 Elite16 Hamburg 13, Q3 2nd 1100 US$20,000.00
FIVB 7/26-30/2023 Elite16 Montréal Q8 17th 400 US$0.00
FIVB 7/20-23/2023 Challenge Edmonton 13 3rd 720 US$7,000.00
FIVB 7/13-16/2023 Challenge Portugal 7 9th 460 US$2,500.00
FIVB 6/15-18/2023 Challenge Jurmala 3 9th 460 US$2,500.00
Elite16 Ostrava Matches
DateBracketOpponentScoreTime
Thu, 6/6/2024 Pool A Leon Luini / Christiaan Varenhorst, Netherlands (16, Q15) Won 21-17, 19-21, 15-11 0:49
Thu, 6/6/2024 Pool A Ondrej Perusic / David Schweiner, Czech Republic (1) Won 14-21, 21-13, 15-7 0:43
Fri, 6/7/2024 Pool A Matthew Immers / Steven van de Velde, Netherlands (9) Lost 18-21, 18-21 0:35
Sat, 6/8/2024 Winner 2 Andy Benesh / Miles Partain, United States (10) Lost 16-21, 21-17, 11-15 0:47
Team Finishes By Tournament Type
Tournament TypePlayedGoldSilverBronze4th5-6th7-8th9-12th13-16th17-24th25thLowerWinnings (US$)
Olympic Games100000010000 $0.00
World Championships200000020000 $22,000.00
World Tour Finals300101010000 $77,500.00
Elite/Major Series/Five Star/Grand Slam2212126043300 $194,000.00
Challenge/Four Star/Open601101030000 $26,250.00
Total34133280113300 $319,750.00
Individual Finishes by Tournament Type
Samuele Cottafava Paolo Nicolai
PlayedGoldSilverBronze4th5-8th9-16th17-24th25thLowerWinnings (US$)Tournament TypePlayedGoldSilverBronze4th5-8th9-16th17-24th25thLowerWinnings (US$)
1000001000 $0.00 Olympic Games4010021000 $0.00
2000002000 $11,000.00 World Championships8000014300 $41,500.00
4001011010 $40,750.00 World Tour Finals8002131100 $99,250.00
271212610400 $106,000.00 Elite/Major Series/Five Star/Grand Slam77266410271640 $423,700.00
18011124410 $26,750.00 Challenge/Four Star/Open5024411510850 $134,337.50
11311022200 $2,575.00 Futures/Three Star/Two Star/One Star3011000100 $6,250.00
           U21 World Championships3200000000 $0.00
           U18/19 World Championships1010000000 $0.00
63444311201020 $187,075.00 Total15461313631432990 $705,037.50
Team Finishes by Season
   ResultsMatches
SeasonAssocPlayedGoldSilverBronze4th5-6th7-8th9-12th13-16th17-24th25thLowerWinnings (US$)WonLostPct
2022FIVB1211203031100 $149,250.00 382263.3 %
2023FIVB1302103050200 $111,000.00 342557.6 %
2024FIVB400002011000 $27,000.00 7846.7 %
TotalFIVB2913308092300 $287,250.00 795559.0 %
Individual Finishes by Season
Samuele Cottafava  Paolo Nicolai
PlayedGoldSilverBronze4th5-8th9-16th17-24th25thLowerWinnings (US$)SeasonAssociationPlayedGoldSilverBronze4th5-8th9-16th17-24th25thLowerWinnings (US$)
           2006FIVB Age Group WC2010000001 $0.00
           2007FIVB Age Group WC1100000000 $0.00
           2008FIVB5000001220 $7,550.00
           2008FIVB Age Group WC1100000000 $0.00
           2009FIVB6000012210 $16,725.00
           2010FIVB8000000620 $13,450.00
           2011FIVB12000033213 $31,750.00
           2012FIVB9011112210 $45,550.00
           2013FIVB12013007100 $56,600.00
           2014FIVB9210103200 $93,500.00
           2015FIVB11001035110 $58,000.00
           2016FIVB10130021210 $35,287.50
           2017FIVB9023010300 $64,750.00
           2018FIVB8011022200 $47,500.00
6100002210 $2,675.00 2019FIVB9000161100 $39,000.00
3100020000 $800.00 2020FIVB1001000000 $5,000.00
8101000204 $3,750.00 2021FIVB7000142000 $30,500.00
12112034100 $74,625.00 2022FIVB12112034100 $74,625.00
13021035200 $55,500.00 2023FIVB13021035200 $55,500.00
4000022000 $13,500.00 2024FIVB4000022000 $13,500.00
4643401013714 $150,850.00 TotalTotal14961313431402994 $688,787.50
Team Match Records
 Won 1st SetLost 1st Set2 Set Matches3 Set MatchesBy ForfeitAll Matches
SeasonWon 2-0Won 2-1Lost 2-1OverallWon 2-1Lost 2-1Lost 2-0OverallOverallOverallWonLostOverall
Overall60 65.9% 14 15.4% 17 18.7% 74-17 81.3% 12 19.7% 12 19.7% 37 60.7% 12-49 19.7% 60-37 61.9% 26-29 47.3% 33 89-69 56.3%
2023-202433 64.7% 10 19.6% 8 15.7% 43-8 84.3% 7 16.3% 9 20.9% 27 62.8% 7-36 16.3% 33-27 55.0% 17-17 50.0% 13 51-47 52.0%
Against the Field23 48.9% 10 21.3% 14 29.8% 33-14 70.2% 9 18.8% 11 22.9% 28 58.3% 9-39 18.8% 46-54 46.0% 38-50 43.2% 01 42-53 44.2%
Team Match Records by Round
 Country QuotaQualifierPool PlayLucky LoserElimination RoundsSemi-FinalsBronze MedalGold MedalOverall
Tournament TypeWonLostWonLostWonLostWonLostWonLostWonLostWonLostWonLostWonLost
Olympic Games000021000100000022
World Championships000051002200000073
World Tour Finals0000480011011000610
Elite/Major Series/Five Star/Grand Slam0010232270010103312125746
Challenge/Four Star/Open00001020054111001178
Total0010253390018184532138969
Head to Head Results
Cottafava/Nicolai trail the series against the field 38-41 (Lead 12 Series, Trail 10 Series, 3 Series Tied)
DateTourTournamentRoundWinning TeamSeedLosing TeamSeedScoreTime
Lead the series against # 1 Perusic/Schweiner, Czech Republic 4-3
6/6/24FIVBElite16 Ostrava Pool A Cottafava/Nicolai 8 Perusic/Schweiner 1 14-21, 21-13, 15-7 0:43
5/23/24FIVBBPT Elite16 Espinho Pool B Cottafava/Nicolai 7 Perusic/Schweiner 2 21-11, 12-21, 15-13 0:45
12/6/23FIVBBPT Finals Doha 2023 Pool A Cottafava/Nicolai 8 Perusic/Schweiner 4 21-18, 22-20 0:40
11/25/23FIVBElite16 Joao Pessoa Winner 2 Cottafava/Nicolai 5 Perusic/Schweiner 1 21-19, 19-21, 15-8 0:53
9/30/23FIVBElite16 Paris Winner 2 Perusic/Schweiner 2 Cottafava/Nicolai 6 21-19, 21-15 0:38
4/28/23FIVBElite16 Uberlândia Pool A Perusic/Schweiner 8 Cottafava/Nicolai 9 19-21, 21-13, 15-12 0:49
1/26/23FIVBBeach Pro Tour Finals Pool B Perusic/Schweiner 7 Cottafava/Nicolai 6 29-31, 21-18, 15-11 0:58
Trail the series against # 2 Ahman/Hellvig, Sweden 1-3
11/26/23FIVBElite16 Joao Pessoa Gold Medal Ahman/Hellvig 2 Cottafava/Nicolai 5 21-11, 21-18 0:32
8/20/23FIVBElite16 Hamburg Gold Medal Ahman/Hellvig 5 Cottafava/Nicolai 13, Q3 21-16, 22-24, 21-19 1:00
8/17/23FIVBElite16 Hamburg Pool D Cottafava/Nicolai 13, Q3 Ahman/Hellvig 5 21-18, 16-21, 15-13 0:45
2/3/23FIVBDoha Elite16 Pool A Ahman/Hellvig 8 Cottafava/Nicolai 9 21-19, 21-9 0:28
Trail the series against # 3 Mol/Sorum, Norway 1-7
10/12/23FIVBBeach Volleyball World Championships Winner 2 Mol/Sorum 1 Cottafava/Nicolai 8 21-19, 21-17 0:39
8/20/23FIVBElite16 Hamburg Semi-Finals Cottafava/Nicolai 13, Q3 Mol/Sorum 1 25-23, 19-21, 15-13 0:57
4/27/23FIVBElite16 Uberlândia Pool A Mol/Sorum 1 Cottafava/Nicolai 9 21-19, 21-15 0:33
3/23/23FIVBElite16 Tepic Pool A Mol/Sorum 1 Cottafava/Nicolai 9 21-19, 21-13 0:31
2/2/23FIVBDoha Elite16 Pool A Mol/Sorum 1 Cottafava/Nicolai 9 21-15, 19-21, 15-12 0:47
1/29/23FIVBBeach Pro Tour Finals Semi-Finals Mol/Sorum 2 Cottafava/Nicolai 6 21-15, 14-21, 15-10 0:58
1/28/23FIVBBeach Pro Tour Finals Pool B Mol/Sorum 2 Cottafava/Nicolai 6 23-25, 21-16, 15-12 0:53
3/25/22FIVBRosarito Elite 16 Pool B Mol/Sorum 2 Cottafava/Nicolai 15, Q7 20-22, 27-25, 15-7 0:54
Series tied with # 4 Boermans/de Groot, Netherlands 2-2
4/18/24FIVBElite16 Tepic Pool C Boermans/de Groot 3 Cottafava/Nicolai 6 21-16, 21-11 0:32
11/26/23FIVBElite16 Joao Pessoa Semi-Finals Cottafava/Nicolai 5 Boermans/de Groot 8 21-15, 21-15 0:32
3/25/23FIVBElite16 Tepic Winner 2 Boermans/de Groot 13, Q5 Cottafava/Nicolai 9 19-21, 21-16, 15-9 0:46
5/8/22FIVBDoha Challenge Semi-Finals Cottafava/Nicolai 9 Boermans/de Groot 3 16-21, 21-9, 15-11 0:42
Trail the series against # 5 Loyola/Wanderley, Brazil 1-6
12/8/23FIVBBPT Finals Doha 2023 Winner 1 Loyola/Wanderley 9 Cottafava/Nicolai 8 21-18, 21-19 0:36
9/29/23FIVBElite16 Paris Pool C Loyola/Wanderley 3 Cottafava/Nicolai 6 21-19, 15-21, 15-10 0:49
8/11/22FIVBHamburg Elite 16 Pool B Loyola/Wanderley 2 Cottafava/Nicolai 7 22-20, 21-16 0:40
6/4/22FIVBJurmala Elite 16 Semi-Finals Cottafava/Nicolai 13, Q1 Loyola/Wanderley 3 21-19, 22-20 0:40
5/27/22FIVBOstrava Elite 16 Pool D Loyola/Wanderley 4 Cottafava/Nicolai 13, Q3 21-16, 21-17 0:35
4/16/22FIVBItapema Challenge Winner 2 Loyola/Wanderley 1 Cottafava/Nicolai 13 21-19, 23-21 0:44
4/15/22FIVBItapema Challenge Pool A Loyola/Wanderley 1 Cottafava/Nicolai 13 29-31, 21-18, 15-13 1:05
Trail the series against # 6 Goncalves/Lanci, Brazil 0-2
11/23/23FIVBElite16 Joao Pessoa Pool D Goncalves/Lanci 4 Cottafava/Nicolai 5 23-21, 24-22 0:44
5/31/23FIVBElite16 Ostrava Qualifier 2 Goncalves/Lanci 15, Q10 Cottafava/Nicolai Q2 21-19, 14-21, 15-12 0:49
Trail the series against # 7 Ehlers/Wickler, Germany 1-2
3/8/24FIVBElite16 Doha Winner 2 Ehlers/Wickler 8 Cottafava/Nicolai 4 21-18, 21-19 0:36
8/18/23FIVBElite16 Hamburg Pool D Cottafava/Nicolai 13, Q3 Ehlers/Wickler 4 27-25, 21-19 0:42
4/29/23FIVBElite16 Uberlândia Winner 1 Ehlers/Wickler 6 Cottafava/Nicolai 9 24-22, 21-17 0:37
Trail the series against # 9 Immers/van de Velde, Netherlands 0-1
6/7/24FIVBElite16 Ostrava Pool A Immers/van de Velde 9 Cottafava/Nicolai 8 21-18, 21-18 0:35
Lead the series against # 10 Benesh/Partain, United States 2-1
6/8/24FIVBElite16 Ostrava Winner 2 Benesh/Partain 10 Cottafava/Nicolai 8 21-16, 17-21, 15-11 0:47
12/8/23FIVBBPT Finals Doha 2023 Pool A Cottafava/Nicolai 8 Benesh/Partain 5 21-17, 21-14 0:33
9/30/23FIVBElite16 Paris Winner 1 Cottafava/Nicolai 6 Benesh/Partain 1 21-17, 21-16 0:35
Lead the series against # 11 Tijan/Younousse, Qatar 4-3
5/24/24FIVBBPT Elite16 Espinho Pool B Cottafava/Nicolai 7 Tijan/Younousse 10 21-19, 19-21, 15-8 0:52
3/6/24FIVBElite16 Doha Pool D Cottafava/Nicolai 4 Tijan/Younousse 12 17-21, 21-17, 15-8 0:48
12/6/23FIVBBPT Finals Doha 2023 Pool A Tijan/Younousse 1 Cottafava/Nicolai 8 21-19, 21-19 0:38
11/23/23FIVBElite16 Joao Pessoa Pool D Tijan/Younousse 13, Q1 Cottafava/Nicolai 5 21-13, 16-21, 15-13 0:52
3/24/23FIVBElite16 Tepic Pool A Cottafava/Nicolai 9 Tijan/Younousse 8 21-18, 21-12 0:31
9/30/22FIVBParis Elite 16 Pool C Tijan/Younousse 6 Cottafava/Nicolai 3 21-18, 26-24 0:42
6/5/22FIVBJurmala Elite 16 Gold Medal Cottafava/Nicolai 13, Q1 Tijan/Younousse 1 16-21, 27-25, 15-12 0:56
Lead the series against # 13, Q3 Pfretzschner/Winter, Germany 1-0
7/22/23FIVBChallenge Edmonton Winner 1 Cottafava/Nicolai 13 Pfretzschner/Winter 23, Q23 21-13, 21-18 0:38
Lead the series against # 14, Q9 Gauthier-Rat/Krou, France 2-0
9/30/22FIVBParis Elite 16 Pool C Cottafava/Nicolai 3 Gauthier-Rat/Krou 14, Q2 21-12, 21-15 0:29
5/7/22FIVBDoha Challenge Winner 1 Cottafava/Nicolai 9 Gauthier-Rat/Krou 17, Q3 30-32, 21-16, 15-9 0:56
Trail the series against # 15, Q13 Kantor/Zdybek, Poland 0-1
6/17/23FIVBChallenge Jurmala Winner 1 Kantor/Zdybek 19, Q9 Cottafava/Nicolai 3 21-18, 21-17 0:34
Lead the series against # 16, Q15 Luini/Varenhorst, Netherlands 1-0
6/6/24FIVBElite16 Ostrava Pool A Cottafava/Nicolai 8 Luini/Varenhorst 16, Q15 21-17, 19-21, 15-11 0:49
Lead the series against # Q1 Budinger/Evans, United States 2-0
3/7/24FIVBElite16 Doha Pool D Cottafava/Nicolai 4 Budinger/Evans 13, Q3 21-19, 21-19 0:38
6/16/23FIVBChallenge Jurmala Pool C Cottafava/Nicolai 3 Budinger/Evans 10 17-21, 21-17, 15-10 0:46
Lead the series against # Q2 Grimalt/Grimalt, Chile 2-0
10/2/22FIVBParis Elite 16 Bronze Medal Cottafava/Nicolai 3 Grimalt/Grimalt 7 21-16, 21-16 0:38
5/7/22FIVBDoha Challenge Winner 2 Cottafava/Nicolai 9 Grimalt/Grimalt 15, Q2 21-14, 21-18 0:35
Trail the series against # Q4 Brouwer/Meeuwsen, Netherlands 3-4
2/4/23FIVBDoha Elite16 Winner 1 Brouwer/Meeuwsen 3 Cottafava/Nicolai 9 21-17, 28-30, 15-12 0:56
1/29/23FIVBBeach Pro Tour Finals Bronze Medal Cottafava/Nicolai 6 Brouwer/Meeuwsen 3 22-20, 19-21, 16-14 0:57
1/26/23FIVBBeach Pro Tour Finals Pool B Cottafava/Nicolai 6 Brouwer/Meeuwsen 3 22-20, 24-22 0:40
10/1/22FIVBParis Elite 16 Semi-Finals Brouwer/Meeuwsen 5 Cottafava/Nicolai 3 27-25, 23-25, 15-9 1:01
8/13/22FIVBHamburg Elite 16 Winner 1 Brouwer/Meeuwsen 9 Cottafava/Nicolai 7 23-21, 21-16 0:41
3/24/22FIVBRosarito Elite 16 Pool B Brouwer/Meeuwsen 7 Cottafava/Nicolai 15, Q7 16-21, 21-11, 16-14 0:50
3/18/22FIVBTlaxcala Challenge Pool B Cottafava/Nicolai 14 Brouwer/Meeuwsen 2 21-19, 16-21, 15-9 0:46
Series tied with # Q5 Gavira/Herrera, Spain 2-2
4/18/24FIVBElite16 Tepic Pool C Gavira/Herrera 14, Q2 Cottafava/Nicolai 6 18-21, 21-19, 15-12 0:49
10/9/23FIVBBeach Volleyball World Championships Pool H Gavira/Herrera 17 Cottafava/Nicolai 8 21-15, 21-18 0:38
8/19/23FIVBElite16 Hamburg Winner 2 Cottafava/Nicolai 13, Q3 Gavira/Herrera 15, Q9 16-21, 21-13, 15-10 0:43
7/21/23FIVBChallenge Edmonton Pool A Cottafava/Nicolai 13 Gavira/Herrera 12 25-23, 19-21, 16-14 1:01
Trail the series against # Q6 Hodges/Schubert, Australia 0-1
5/23/24FIVBBPT Elite16 Espinho Pool B Hodges/Schubert 15, Q11 Cottafava/Nicolai 7 21-16, 22-20 0:36
Lead the series against # Q7 Capogrosso/Capogrosso, Argentina 1-0
10/11/23FIVBBeach Volleyball World Championships Winner 1 Cottafava/Nicolai 8 Capogrosso/Capogrosso 35 21-17, 21-12 0:34
Trail the series against # Q8 Felipe/Lima, Brazil 1-2
1/27/23FIVBBeach Pro Tour Finals Pool B Cottafava/Nicolai 6 Felipe/Lima 9 21-14, 21-15 0:34
6/16/22FIVBBeach Volleyball World Championships Winner 2 Felipe/Lima 12 Cottafava/Nicolai 14 11-21, 21-19, 15-13 0:56
5/6/22FIVBDoha Challenge Pool D Felipe/Lima 4 Cottafava/Nicolai 9 19-21, 25-23, 15-12 0:54
Lead the series against # Q10 Horl/Horst, Austria 3-0
11/25/23FIVBElite16 Joao Pessoa Winner 1 Cottafava/Nicolai 5 Horl/Horst 10 21-14, 21-14 0:33
9/28/23FIVBElite16 Paris Pool C Cottafava/Nicolai 6 Horl/Horst 14, Q5 25-23, 21-19 0:40
5/31/23FIVBElite16 Ostrava Qualifier 1 Cottafava/Nicolai Q2 Horl/Horst Q15 21-16, 21-18 0:36
Lead the series against # Q11 Carambula/Ranghieri, Italy 1-0
1/28/23FIVBBeach Pro Tour Finals Winner 1 Cottafava/Nicolai 6 Carambula/Ranghieri 10 21-18, 21-11 0:35
Lead the series against # Q12 Bassereau/Lyneel, France 2-0
9/29/23FIVBElite16 Paris Pool C Cottafava/Nicolai 6 Bassereau/Lyneel 11 21-13, 21-18 0:31
4/27/23FIVBElite16 Uberlândia Pool A Cottafava/Nicolai 9 Bassereau/Lyneel 16, Q8 21-17, 23-21 0:37
Series tied with # Q14 Brunner/Crabb, United States 1-1
4/19/24FIVBElite16 Tepic Pool C Brunner/Crabb 11 Cottafava/Nicolai 6 22-20, 20-22, 15-12 0:50
11/24/23FIVBElite16 Joao Pessoa Pool D Cottafava/Nicolai 5 Brunner/Crabb 12 21-19, 20-22, 15-7 0:49