The McKibbin brothers, representing the United States, had a winning start to their FIVB Snow Volleyball World Series career in Kronplatz ©FVB

Brothers Riley and Maddison McKibbin, alongside team-mate Troy Field, made a triumphant first appearance in an International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Snow Volleyball World Tour event as they beat Russia 2-1 in the men’s final today in Kronplatz.

The McKibbin brothers and Field had come through qualification at the Italian resort as USA Two, and claimed their first World Tour title 9-15, 15-13, 22-20.

The gold medallists had gained their first experience of snow volleyball earlier in the week at the Prato Nevoso tournament.

“It’s an experience!” Riley told FIVB.

“It’s much better than we could have expected.

“We were a little nervous coming into it, because playing on the beach is already more difficult than playing indoors and we weren’t sure how the cleats would react on the snow, but it’s really fun.

“Matteo Carlon from Snow Volley Italia texted us on Instagram and invited us to play at the Prato Nevoso tournament and we saw that there is a World Tour event also in Italy the following week, so we decided to fly here and play in both tournaments, try this new sport and see what happens.

“And I can’t stress enough how fun it’s been.”

Maddison added: “It’s unique to be part of a new sport of volleyball, a new chapter of volleyball.”

Bronze in the men’s event went to Poland, who were represented in Italy by Piotr Groszek, Karol Szczepanik, Kamil Warzocha and Michal Matyja.

They earned a 2-1 win over Austria.

Russia’s women took the gold with a 15-13, 15-11 victory over the US team of Karissa Cook, Emily Hartong, Katie Spieler and Allie Wheeler.