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Olympics beach volleyball 2016 results: August 9

By Nathaniel Reeves

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 09: Viacheslav Krasilnikov of Russia celebrates during the Men's Beach Volleyball Preliminary Pool E match against Marco Grimalt and Esteban Grimalt of Chile on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Beach Volleyball Arena on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 09: Viacheslav Krasilnikov of Russia celebrates during the Men's Beach Volleyball Preliminary Pool E match against Marco Grimalt and Esteban Grimalt of Chile on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Beach Volleyball Arena on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Day 4 of the 2016 Rio Olympics featured yet another loaded day of beach volleyball action.

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All teams have now played two pool play matches following Tuesday’s slate, as the field for the knockout stages is quickly coming into focus.

After losing their first match in pool play, Team USA’s Brooke Sweat and Lauren Fendrick were in need of a win to boost their hopes of qualifying for the knockout rounds. Unfortunately for the Americans, their second match was against top-seeded Larissa Franca and Talita Antunes. The Brazilian duo won comfortably 21-16, 21-13, improving to 2-0.

On the men’s side, Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena went for another win against Mexico’s Juan Virgen and Lambardo Ontiveros, who were victorious in their first match. The American duo were never threatened, cruising to a 21-14, 21-17 sweep.

In one of the most exciting matches of the day, Nivaldo Diaz and Sergio Gonzalez of Cuba looked to complete their second straight upset against Latvia’s Aleksandrs Samoilovs and Janis Smedins. The two sides traded close sets before the Cubans pulled away 15-9 in the third to pull another stunner.

The morning began with Pedro Solberg and Evandro Goncalves trying to avoid a second straight loss on home sand in a match against Canada. Chaim Schalk and Ben Saxton overcame a first set loss and won the third 16-14 to improve to 2-0 and potentially drop the Brazilians out of the tournament.

Italy’s Marta Menegatti and Laura Giombini, a duo that formed just a week ago, overwhelmed their opponents 21-10, 21-13 from Egypt for their first win of the tournament. Monika Brzostek and Kinga Kolosinska of Poland held off a team from Russia 21-19, 21-18.

Veteran Reinder Nummerdor, in his fifth Olympics, and partner Christaan Varenhorst of the Netherlands took down a Polish team in three sets to remain undefeated. Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst of Germany are quickly establishing themselves as medal threats after an easy 21-17, 21-11  win against solid Canadian squad Jamie Broder and Kristina Valija.

The German women picked up another win, with Karla Borger and Britta Buthe defeating a Dutch squad. Italian veterans Poalo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo picked up their first win, beating Tunisia 21-17, 21-13.

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Konstantin Semenov and Vyacheslev Krasilnikov of Russia earned their second straight sweep, easily defeating cousins Esteban and Marco Grimalt of Chile. Canada’s Sarah Pavan and Heather Bansley continue to look like medal contenders after taking down Switzerland 21-18, 21-18.

This set of teams will be back in action on Thursday to close out pool play and determine the field for the knockout rounds.

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