Brazil on track for double beach volleyball gold

Omnisports

August 17, 2016 2:44 AM

Brazil will have teams in both the men's and women's beach volleyball gold medal matches at Rio 2016.

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Kerri Walsh Jennings will not play for an Olympic gold medal for the first time in her decorated beach volleyball career after she and partner April Ross lost in the semi-finals to Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas de Freitas of Brazil.

Playing in front of a partisan home crowd on the Copacabana beach, Walsh-Jennings - winner of gold for the last three Games with former partner Misty May-Treanor - and Ross were undone by the inspired Brazilian pair, who took the first set 22-20 after the Americans forced extra serves, before winning the second 21-18 to wrap up victory as their five aces proved the difference.

Agatha and Barbara will now face Germany's Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst in the final at Rio 2016 following their 21-18 21-12 success over home duo Larissa Franca Maestrini and Talita Rocha.

In the men's tournament there will also be Brazilian representation in the final, the pairing of Alison and Bruno Schmidt overcoming Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen of the Netherlands 21-17 21-23 16-14.

They will take on Italy's Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo, who came from behind to defeat Russia's Viacheslav Krasilnikov and Konstantin Semenov in three sets.

The tireless Lupo was the star for the Italians in a stirring comeback and it was he who fittingly fired down the winning point in a 15-21 21-16 15-13 triumph.

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