Brazil tops Spain REPLAY
Brazil’s Alison and Bruno Schmidt handled Spain’s Herrera/Gavira in straight sets, winning 24-22, 21-13, to advance to the quarterfinals. The Spanish men finished 2-1 in Pool F, managing to beat out fifth-seeded Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson to enter the Round of 16. The Brazilian men will advance to quarterfinals where they’ll meet USA’s Nick Lucena and Phil Dalhausser.
Canadian clash REPLAY
Sarah Pavan and Heather Bansley beat compatriots Jamie Lynn Broder and Kristina Valjas in straight sets to advance to the quarterfinals. Bansley nearly made her Olympic debut at the 2012 Games after qualifying a country quota spot but was beaten out at Canadian trials. Despite the fact that her compatriots failed to make it out of pool play at the London Games, Bansley used the loss as a source of inspiration and set a goal to make it to the Rio Games. Pavan/Bansley will advance to the quarterfinals where they’ll face Germany’s Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst.
German streak continues REPLAY
Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst (GER) continued their winning streak in a Round of 16 match against Switzerland’s Forrer/Verge-Depre. The Swiss, who challenged April Ross and Kerri Walsh Jennings in three sets in the final match of pool play, were beaten by the Germans 21-19, 21-10. Ludwig/Walkenhorst will play Canada’s Sarah Pavan and Heather Bansley in the quarterfinals.
Brazilians lose on home sand REPLAY
Third-seeded Brazilians Pedro Solberg and Evandro were eliminated from the Olympic beach volleyball tournament after falling to Russia’s Liamin/Barsuk in three sets. The hometown favorites finished pool play 1-2 and played every match to three sets. Liamin/Barsuk will face off against Italy’s Nicolai/Lupo in the quarterfinals.
The Dutch cruise along REPLAY
Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen look to continue their winning streak after besting Canada’s Chaim Schalk and Ben Saxton in straight sets. Brouwer/Meeuwsen are now 4-0 in the Rio Olympic beach volleyball tournament and will battle compatriots Reinder Nummerdor and Christiaan Varenhorst in the quarterfinals.
Switzerland shakes things up REPLAY
In a stunning upset, 14-seed Nadine Zumkehr and Joana Heidrich (SUI) defeated Pool F winners Marleen Meppelink and Madelein van Iersel to advance to the quarterfinals. The Swiss women will play Brazil’s Larissa and Talita in the quarterfinals.
Aussies on top REPLAY
Olympic veteran Louise Bawden, alongside new partner and Olympic rookie Taliqua Clancy, will advance to the quarterfinals after the duo challenged Poland’s Kolosinska/Brzostek in three sets. Clancy/Bawden won 15-21, 21-16, 15-11 and are now 4-0. The pair will face Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross in the quarterfinals.
U.S. men close cool Copacabana night REPLAY
Austria’s Robin Seidl and Alexander Huber fell to USA’s Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena 21-14, 21-15. The U.S. men advance to the quarterfinal where they’ll face top-seeded Brazilian’s Alison and Bruno Schmidt.