Brazilian men eliminate U.S. pair in beach volleyball

Brazil’s Alison Cerutti and Bruno Schmidt defeated Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena on Monday to eliminate the U.S. from the men’s beach volleyball competition at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The Brazilians, who entered the tourney as the favorites to win the gold medal, prevailed in the quarterfinal match 2114, 1221, 159 amid high winds on Rio’s Copacabana beach.

Cerutti and Schmidt jumped out to a lead in the first set and left the U.S. duo with few options.

The Americans responded in kind to take the second set, forcing the Brazilians to refine their approach in the tiebreaker.

Dalhausser and Lucena won all three of their matches in group play and were seen as Brazil’s biggest rival for the gold.

Two Dutch teams Nummerdor/Varenhorst and Brouwer/Meeuwsen will play each other for the opportunity to face the Brazilian duo in the semifinals.