Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 10, 2016 - Despite a “scare” during the first set of the match, Rio 2016 Olympic Beach Volleyball favorites Alison Cerutti and Bruno Oscar Schmidt regained their winning ways here Wednesday afternoon by defeating previously undefeated Adrian Carambula and Alex Ranghieri of Italy in two sets.
Competing in Pool A with the Italians, Austrians and Canadians, Alison and Bruno posted their seventh-straight win in as many matches with the Italians by posting a 2-0 (21-19, 21-16) win in 48 minutes over Carambula and Ranghieri. Early in the first set, Alison and Carambula collided at the net with Carambula and the Brazilian left the court with a right ankle injury with the score 9-8. After a two minute break, Alison was back and playing at the highest level in the sport’s most prestigious event.
Carambula and Ranghieri led for most of the first set and held a 19-17 lead before the Brazilians won the opening set by scoring four-straight points featuring three points where Bruno’s digging led to scores. Alison and Bruno led throughout the second set with five-point leads of 10-5 and 18-13.
The final results for the Pool A are still to be determined as Austrians Clemens Doppler and Alexander Horst can match the Brazilian and Italian’ 2-1 match marks by defeating Josh Binstock and Sam Schachter of Canada later Wednesday. If the Canadians win, Alison and Bruno will win the pool by having a better point ratio than the Italians.
