World champs Agatha & Barbara recover to rally past Czech pair

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 6, 2016 -The second sessions on the opening day of Beach Volleyball competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games produced the first three-setter of the quadrennial as reigning FIVB world champions Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas of Brazil rallied to defeat Barbora Hermannova and Marketa Slukova of the Czech Republic.

In the first fourth international meeting between the two teams with the Brazilians winning for the third-straight-time, Agatha and Barbara posted a 2-1 (19-21, 21-17, 15-11) Pool B win in 60 minutes over Hermannova and Slukova, who were the second-to-last women’s team to qualify for the Rio Olympics via the FIVB Continental Cup Finals last month in Sochi, Russia.

Rio 2016 Olympic Games - Beach volleyball history

The first set was “hip-and-tuck” before Barbara and Agatha scored three-straight points to take a 16-12 lead.  Hermannova and Slukova regained their composure to cut the deficit to 16-15 and finished the set by scoring six of the last nine points.

After tying the match with a second set success, Agatha and Barbara recovered from an early 4-5 deficit to take control of the third and final set by scoring five of the next seven points to take a 9-7 lead.  This time, the Brazilians did not relinquish the lead and coasted to the win by out-scoring the Czechs 6-4 at the end of the match.

After an off-day Sunday, the two teams return to action Monday with the Hermannova and Slukova meeting Elsa Baquerizo and Liliana Fernandez of Spain with Agatha and Barbara being challenged by South American rivals Ana Gallay and Georgina Klug of Argentina.  In an earlier match Saturday, Elsa and Liliana defeated Gallay and Klug 2-0 (21-11, 21-19) in 40 minutes.