And the winners are...... 

Julius Brink/Christoph Dieckmann - Germany

David Klemperer/Eric Koreng - Germany

Jonas Reckermann/Mischa Urbatzka - Germany

The FIVB rule that states that a maximum of two teams from the same country can qualify for the Olympics, has made for some very interesting within-country battles over the years. This year is no exception, as teams from Brazil, USA, Germany and Netherlands feel more pressure to compete against teams from their own country, than against the international teams. Germany, though, has had the tightest race of them all. Close enough that all three teams will take home a shared Heesey Award tonight! The teams, as listed above, are at 3300, 3080, and 3030 Olympic Ranking points respectively, with Reckermann/Urbatzka on the outside looking in. Urbatzka has played really well considering the pressure that Jonas the 'Wrecking Ball" Reckermann puts on him - well enough to be in the top 12 in the Olympic Ranking. It must be difficult to know that you are amongst the best teams in the world, but may not make it to Beijing. Just ask Brazilians Harley/Salgado, who have won three events this year, are ranked 4th in the World, but still are quite a bit behind the top two Brazilians in the race to the Olympics!