Team Preview

Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour
US$350,000 Hyundai Open Barcelona
May 27 - June 1, 2008

(8) Riccardo Lione/Matteo Varnier, Italy

Riccardo "Riccardino" Lione
Italy

Photo: FIVB

Personal Info

Birth Date:

Apr 13, 1972 (52 yrs old)

Home Town:

Rome

Height:

197 cm (6'6")

Weight:

97 kg (213 lb)

Seasons:

Tournaments:

109

Career Best:

2nd (2 times)

Career FIVB WT Best:

4th (2 times)

Career Winnings:

US$165,645.00

Matteo Varnier
Italy

Photo: FIVB

Personal Info

Birth Date:

Oct 16, 1979 (45 yrs old)

Home Town:

Sanremo

Height:

198 cm (6'6")

Weight:

82 kg (180 lb)

Seasons:

Tournaments:

Career Best:

2nd (3 times)

Career FIVB WT Best:

4th (2 times)

Career Winnings:

US$122,550.00

Team Career Summary

Tour	Played	1	2	3	4	5	7	9	13	17	25	33	41	57	CQ	Money
FIVB	38	0	0	0	2	3	1	8	5	10	2	3	2	1	1	US$187,200.00
FIVB C&S	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	US$5,400.00
Overall	40	0	2	0	2	3	1	8	5	10	2	3	2	1	1	US$192,600.00

Previous Barcelona Results Neither player has played in this venue before

Recent Results

Tour	Date	Tournament	Seed	Finish	Points	Money
FIVB	5/20-25/2008	Zagreb Open	19	13th	180	US$3,900.00
FIVB	5/13-18/2008	Italian Open	9	13th	180	US$3,900.00
FIVB	4/28-5/3/2008	China Shanghai Open	16	9th	240	US$5,500.00
FIVB	3/25-30/2008	Adelaide Australia Open	23	17th	120	US$2,500.00
FIVB	8/29-9/2/2007	St. Petersburg Open	23	7th	300	US$8,000.00
FIVB	8/15-19/2007	Aland Open	21	17th	120	US$3,000.00
FIVB	8/8-12/2007	Kristiansand Open	19	13th	150	US$3,800.00
FIVB	8/1-5/2007	Klagenfurt Grand Slam	27	17th	160	US$5,100.00
FIVB	7/24-29/2007	Gstaad World Championships	30	33rd	50	US$4,800.00
FIVB	7/18-22/2007	Marseille Open	14	25th	60	US$2,000.00
FIVB	7/10-15/2007	Berlin Grand Slam	21	17th	160	US$5,100.00
FIVB	7/3-8/2007	Montréal Open	11	9th	240	US$6,000.00
FIVB	6/27-7/1/2007	Stavanger Grand Slam	22	25th	80	US$3,500.00
FIVB	6/20-24/2007	Paris Grand Slam	24	9th	320	US$8,000.00
FIVB	6/13-17/2007	Espinho Open	15	17th	120	US$3,000.00
FIVB	6/5-10/2007	Zagreb Open	15	13th	180	US$4,500.00

Barcelona Open Matches

Date	Bracket	Opponent	Score	Time
Thu, 5/29/2008	Winner 1	Premysl Kubala / Jaroslav Pavlas, Czech Republic (25, Q6)	Won 17-21, 21-16, 15-7	0:52
Thu, 5/29/2008	Winner 2	Pablo Herrera / Raul Mesa, Spain (9)	Lost 21-19, 19-21, 8-0 Retired	1:11
Fri, 5/30/2008	Contender 2	Guilherm Deulofeu / Yannick Salvetti, France (23)	Won 21-15, 21-18	0:42
Fri, 5/30/2008	Contender 3	Jason Lochhead / Kirk Pitman, New Zealand (16, Q2)	Won 21-19, 21-12	0:46
Fri, 5/30/2008	Contender 4	Marcio Araujo / Fabio Luiz Magalhaes, Brazil (6)	Lost 21-17, 18-21, 10-15	1:02

Head to Head Results
Lione/Varnier trail the series against the field 27-32 (Lead 10 Series, Trail 7 Series, 3 Series Tied)

Date	Tour	Tournament	Round	Winning Team	Seed	Losing Team	Seed	Score	Time
Trail the series against # 1 Rego/Santos, Brazil 0-4
4/30/08	FIVB	China Shanghai Open	Winner 2	Rego/Santos	1	Lione/Varnier	16	21-13, 21-15	0:34
6/17/06	FIVB	Portugal Open	Semi-Finals	Rego/Santos	1	Lione/Varnier	7	21-11, 33-31	0:51
6/9/06	FIVB	Italian Open	Winner 3	Rego/Santos	1	Lione/Varnier	9	21-15, 21-14	0:43
10/28/05	FIVB	Acapulco Open	Semi-Finals	Rego/Santos	1	Lione/Varnier	7, Q14	By Forfeit
Trail the series against # 4 Barsuk/Kolodinsky, Russia 0-4
5/15/08	FIVB	Italian Open	Winner 2	Barsuk/Kolodinsky	8	Lione/Varnier	9	21-19, 21-17	0:43
9/1/07	FIVB	St. Petersburg Open	Contender 5	Barsuk/Kolodinsky	2	Lione/Varnier	23	19-21, 21-16, 15-8	0:57
8/2/07	FIVB	Klagenfurt Grand Slam	Pool F	Barsuk/Kolodinsky	6	Lione/Varnier	27	21-17, 21-14	0:40
7/25/07	FIVB	Gstaad World Championships	Pool S	Barsuk/Kolodinsky	6	Lione/Varnier	30	21-15, 21-15	0:44
Trail the series against # 5 Schacht/Slack, Australia 1-3
5/1/08	FIVB	China Shanghai Open	Contender 4	Schacht/Slack	6	Lione/Varnier	16	21-17, 21-11	0:39
6/7/07	FIVB	Zagreb Open	Winner 1	Schacht/Slack	18	Lione/Varnier	15	19-21, 21-19, 15-10	1:07
6/30/06	FIVB	Norway Grand Slam	Pool E	Lione/Varnier	12	Schacht/Slack	5	16-21, 22-20, 15-10	0:57
9/3/05	FIVB	Greece Open	Contender 6	Schacht/Slack	7	Lione/Varnier	29, Q14	21-16, 18-21, 21-19	1:18
Trail the series against # 6 Araujo/Magalhaes, Brazil 1-4
5/30/08	FIVB	Barcelona Open	Contender 4	Araujo/Magalhaes	6	Lione/Varnier	8	17-21, 21-18, 15-10	1:02
5/23/08	FIVB	Zagreb Open	Contender 3	Araujo/Magalhaes	11	Lione/Varnier	19	21-15, 17-21, 15-12	1:01
7/1/06	FIVB	Norway Grand Slam	Winner 3	Araujo/Magalhaes	2	Lione/Varnier	12	21-17, 21-12	0:38
6/16/06	FIVB	Portugal Open	Winner 3	Lione/Varnier	7	Araujo/Magalhaes	2	21-19, 18-21, 18-16	1:14
6/15/05	FIVB	Switzerland Open	Qualifier 3	Araujo/Magalhaes	3, Q1	Lione/Varnier	Q48	21-17, 21-16	0:46
Trail the series against # 7 Heuscher/Heyer, Switzerland 0-3
8/3/07	FIVB	Klagenfurt Grand Slam	Pool F	Heuscher/Heyer	11	Lione/Varnier	27	21-16, 21-12	0:33
7/13/07	FIVB	Berlin Grand Slam	Pool E	Heuscher/Heyer	5	Lione/Varnier	21	21-13, 21-16	0:38
6/8/07	FIVB	Zagreb Open	Contender 3	Heuscher/Heyer	7	Lione/Varnier	15	21-19, 21-19	0:43
Trail the series against # 9 Herrera/Mesa, Spain 1-4
5/29/08	FIVB	Barcelona Open	Winner 2	Herrera/Mesa	9	Lione/Varnier	8	21-19, 19-21, 8-0 Retired	1:11
5/16/08	FIVB	Italian Open	Contender 3	Herrera/Mesa	18	Lione/Varnier	9	22-24, 21-18, 15-8	1:07
8/3/07	FIVB	Klagenfurt Grand Slam	Winner 1	Herrera/Mesa	18	Lione/Varnier	27	21-14, 16-21, 15-12	0:58
7/1/06	FIVB	Norway Grand Slam	Winner 1	Lione/Varnier	12	Herrera/Mesa	28, Q5	21-16, 21-12	0:38
6/30/06	FIVB	Norway Grand Slam	Pool E	Herrera/Mesa	28, Q5	Lione/Varnier	12	21-17, 21-16	0:43
Lead the series against # 12 Berg/Brinkborg, Sweden 1-0
5/23/08	FIVB	Zagreb Open	Contender 2	Lione/Varnier	19	Berg/Brinkborg	20	17-21, 22-20, 18-16	1:04
Series tied with # 14 Kjemperud/Skarlund, Norway 2-2
7/19/07	FIVB	Marseille Open	Winner 1	Kjemperud/Skarlund	19	Lione/Varnier	14	21-17, 21-19	0:44
5/24/07	FIVB	Italian Open	Winner 2	Kjemperud/Skarlund	10	Lione/Varnier	7	21-16, 21-16	0:33
8/4/06	FIVB	Austria Grand Slam	Pool H	Lione/Varnier	8	Kjemperud/Skarlund	24	21-18, 21-18	0:42
6/17/06	FIVB	Portugal Open	Contender 6	Lione/Varnier	7	Kjemperud/Skarlund	12	23-21, 19-21, 15-11	1:03
Lead the series against # 16, Q2 Lochhead/Pitman, New Zealand 2-1
5/30/08	FIVB	Barcelona Open	Contender 3	Lione/Varnier	8	Lochhead/Pitman	16, Q2	21-19, 21-12	0:46
8/17/07	FIVB	Aland Open	Contender 2	Lochhead/Pitman	27	Lione/Varnier	21	32-30, 24-22	1:11
9/1/05	FIVB	Greece Open	Contender 1	Lione/Varnier	29, Q14	Lochhead/Pitman	20, Q2	21-23, 21-11, 15-9	0:56
Trail the series against # 17 "Geor" Gomes/Terceiro, Georgia 1-3
5/15/08	FIVB	Italian Open	Winner 1	Lione/Varnier	9	"Geor" Gomes/Terceiro	24, Q2	21-16, 21-18	0:42
8/9/07	FIVB	Kristiansand Open	Winner 1	"Geor" Gomes/Terceiro	14	Lione/Varnier	19	21-14, 15-21, 15-12	0:53
6/14/07	FIVB	Espinho Open	Winner 1	"Geor" Gomes/Terceiro	18	Lione/Varnier	15	21-16, 21-17	0:43
5/25/07	FIVB	Italian Open	Contender 3	"Geor" Gomes/Terceiro	18, Q2	Lione/Varnier	7	21-19, 21-15	0:40
Series tied with # 18 Asahi/Shiratori, Japan 1-1
4/30/08	FIVB	China Shanghai Open	Winner 1	Lione/Varnier	16	Asahi/Shiratori	17	21-9, 21-15	0:35
3/28/08	FIVB	Adelaide Australia Open	Contender 2	Asahi/Shiratori	25, Q3	Lione/Varnier	23	21-17, 21-17	0:41
Lead the series against # 19 Brenha/Maia, Portugal 2-0
8/10/07	FIVB	Kristiansand Open	Contender 2	Lione/Varnier	19	Brenha/Maia	13	15-21, 21-16, 18-16	1:02
9/3/05	FIVB	Greece Open	Contender 5	Lione/Varnier	29, Q14	Brenha/Maia	16	21-17, 21-18	0:44
Lead the series against # 21 Cadieux/Heese, Canada 2-1
8/31/07	FIVB	St. Petersburg Open	Contender 3	Lione/Varnier	23	Cadieux/Heese	18	21-17, 21-16	0:49
6/15/07	FIVB	Espinho Open	Contender 2	Cadieux/Heese	17	Lione/Varnier	15	19-21, 21-15, 15-12	1:15
10/25/05	FIVB	Acapulco Open	Qualifier 2	Lione/Varnier	7, Q14	Cadieux/Heese	28, Q3	21-18, 21-19	0:50
Lead the series against # 23 Deulofeu/Salvetti, France 4-1
5/30/08	FIVB	Barcelona Open	Contender 2	Lione/Varnier	8	Deulofeu/Salvetti	23	21-15, 21-18	0:42
8/31/07	FIVB	St. Petersburg Open	Contender 4	Lione/Varnier	23	Deulofeu/Salvetti	22	21-18, 21-13	0:36
7/13/07	FIVB	Berlin Grand Slam	Pool E	Lione/Varnier	21	Deulofeu/Salvetti	28	22-20, 16-21, 15-8	0:53
6/21/07	FIVB	Paris Grand Slam	Pool H	Deulofeu/Salvetti	9	Lione/Varnier	24	22-20, 21-17	0:48
8/4/06	FIVB	Austria Grand Slam	Winner 1	Lione/Varnier	8	Deulofeu/Salvetti	28, Q15	21-15, 21-16	0:42
Lead the series against # 24, Q9 Alvarez/Ramirez Bernal, Cuba 1-0
9/2/05	FIVB	Greece Open	Contender 3	Lione/Varnier	29, Q14	Alvarez/Ramirez Bernal	5	By Forfeit
Lead the series against # 25, Q6 Kubala/Pavlas, Czech Republic 2-0
5/29/08	FIVB	Barcelona Open	Winner 1	Lione/Varnier	8	Kubala/Pavlas	25, Q6	17-21, 21-16, 15-7	0:52
8/30/07	FIVB	St. Petersburg Open	Contender 1	Lione/Varnier	23	Kubala/Pavlas	26, Q9	21-15, 21-9	0:34
Series tied with # 27, Q5 Pedrosa/Rosas, Portugal 1-1
10/25/06	FIVB	Mexico Open	Winner 2	Pedrosa/Rosas	24, Q4	Lione/Varnier	8	31-29, 21-15	0:59
6/15/06	FIVB	Portugal Open	Winner 2	Lione/Varnier	7	Pedrosa/Rosas	10	21-19, 18-21, 15-12	1:04
Lead the series against # Q8 Koshkarev/Prokopiev, Russia 2-0
8/31/07	FIVB	St. Petersburg Open	Contender 2	Lione/Varnier	23	Koshkarev/Prokopiev	9, Q12	20-22, 22-20, 15-10	0:54
5/25/07	FIVB	Italian Open	Contender 2	Lione/Varnier	7	Koshkarev/Prokopiev	8	21-18, 16-21, 15-13	0:58
Lead the series against # Q17 Blauel/Huber, Austria 2-0
8/31/05	FIVB	Greece Open	Qualifier 1	Lione/Varnier	29, Q14	Blauel/Huber	Q19	21-17, 17-21, 15-10	0:50
7/16/05	FIVB C&S	Italy Challenger	Winner 1	Lione/Varnier	19	Blauel/Huber	14	21-18, 21-17	0:37
Lead the series against # Q22 Kovacev/Zukovskij, Croatia 1-0
6/7/07	FIVB	Zagreb Open	Contender 1	Lione/Varnier	15	Kovacev/Zukovskij	31	21-9, 21-16	0:33