Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 13, 2016 - In a Rio 2016 Olympic Beach Volleyball featured four of the most experienced and talented players in the world, Brazilians Alison Cerutti and Bruno Oscar Schmidt survived a first set scare from Adrian Gavira and Pablo Herrera to defeat the Spaniards here Saturday morning to advance to quarter-finals.
In posting their third-straight international win in as many meetings with their European opponent, Alison and Bruno scored a 2-0 (24-22, 21-13) win in 43 minutes to eliminate Gavira and Herrera from the competition. The setback marked the second Olympics where the Spaniards were ousted by a Brazilian pair in the Round of 16 as Pedro Cunha and Ricardo eliminated Gavira and Herrera in two sets at the London 2012 Summer Games.
In the second and final set, there were four ties before the Brazilians led 11-10 at the technical timeout. After the break, an Alison attack sailed out to tie the set for the last time at 11s. From that point, three Alison blocks fueled a five point run to give the Brazilians a 16-11 edge enroute to the match win. Alison’s sixth block of the match ended the set.
The first set featured 13 ties and four lead changes with Alison and Bruno gaining the serving advantage at 19-18 on a Bruno serve that clip the net and fell in front of a diving Herrera. After a Gavira attack tied it at 22s, an Alison attack and a Herrera hitting error earned the Brazilians the set win.
The reigning FIVB world champions and pre-Olympic favorites to top the Copacabana podium this coming Thursday, Alison and Bruno will play a quarter-final match Monday against the winner of the contest between Americans Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena and Austrians Alexander Huber/Robin Seidl.
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