Team USA’s top men’s beach volleyball duo cruised through its preliminary match Tuesday at the 2016 Rio Olympics. World No. 2-ranked Phil Dalhausser and Nicholas Lucena won 2-0, taking their sets 21-14 and 21-17 over Mexico’s Juan Virgen and Lombardo Ontivero.
Olympic beach volleyball results: Team USA’s Phil Dalhausser and Nicholas Lucena ease past Mexico
Phil Dalhausser and Nicholas Lucena continue to prove they are among the world’s best beach volleyball duos, winning in straight sets over Mexico on Tuesday.
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
With the win, the Dalhausser-Lucena duo improved to 2-0 in pool play, putting them in good position to advance to the Round of 16. After beating Tunisia on Sunday, Team USA is now in 2-0 in Pool C, and the only team in the pool that has yet to lose. Dalhausser and Lucena will play Italy at 3:30 p.m. ET on Thursday.
It wasn’t a perfect day for Team USA. The women’s duo of Brooke Sweat and Lauren Fendrick lost in straight sets to Brazil’s Larissa Franca and Talita Rocha, 21-16 and 21-13. The Brazilian duo is ranked No. 6 in the world. Fendrick and Sweat are ranked 22nd.
Dalhausser and Lucena are carrying the hopes of Team USA for the men’s side much like Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross are for the women’s. Ranked No. 3 in the world, Walsh Jennings-Ross made easy work of China on Monday, winning in straight sets to also improve to 2-0 in pool play. They will finish out preliminary play against Switzerland at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
Dalhausser and Walsh Jennings are both giants in the sport. Dalhausser already has one Olympic gold medal, while Walsh Jennings has three. Dalhausser’s partner, Lucena, is making his Olympic debut. Walsh Jennings’ partner, Ross, won silver at the 2012 London Olympics, losing in the final to Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor.
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