Rough start into 2nd Cancun event for several top teams
Some of the men’s top teams had a rather rough start into the main draw of the second Cancun Hub event in Mexico. While reigning FIVB world champions Viacheslav Krasilnikov/Oleg Stoyanovskiy of Russia could prevent an early goodbye in the last minute, US top team Taylor Crabb/ Jake Gibb and Brazil’s Evandro/ Bruno Schmidt were eliminated after two initial losses.
The Americans lost their first match against strong Polish team Rudol/ Szalankiewicz in straight sets (14:21, 19:21). In a close “win-or-go-home” match, Crabb/Gibb were also defeated by Rio sliver medalists Lupo/ Nicolai of Italy. After losing the first set, the US team fought back and could win the second set after several controversial referee decisions at the business end of the set. The following tie-beak was as close as it can get but with a happy end for the Italians (17:21, 22:20, 13:15).
Russian world champs Krasilnikov/ Stoyanovskiy suffered an early defeat against Dutchmen Boermans/ De Groot. In a “must win” match, they finally managed to make it into the round of 24 after battling Germany’s Ehlers/ Flüggen in three sets (18:21, 21:15, 16:14). On late Friday, Brazilian team Evandro / Bruno Schmidt were also kicked out of the tournament. The 2017 world champion and 2016 Rio gold medalist lost both their matches in straight sets to Saxton/ O’Gorman of Canada and local heroes Gaxiola/ Rubio.
The knock-out round starts on Saturday and you can follow it on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Youtube channel.
