Tokyo Olympics Volleyball: Brazil begins brightly; Germany upset in beach volleyball

The Brazil men's team began its gold medal defence with a straights sets win over Tunisia in pool B while Rio silver medallist Italy scraped past Canada.

Brazil began its defence of gold in the men’s volleyball in convincing fashion at the Ariake Arena on Saturday.

Brazil began its defence of gold in the men’s volleyball in convincing fashion at the Ariake Arena on Saturday. It won its Pool B match against Tunisia in straight sets, 25-22, 25-20, 25-15. The silver medallist from Rio, Italy, though had a much tougher time against Canada, as the opening match in the event produced some thrilling stuff. It was a magnificent fightback by the Italians after dropping the first two sets. They won 26-28, 18-25, 25-21, 25-18, 15-11, after two hours and 17 minutes.

READ:

In beach volleyball, Germany’s Laura Ludwig, one half of the gold-medal winning team at Rio, finished on the losing side. She is pairing up this time around with Margareta Kozuch; the duo was beaten by Tanja Huberli & Nina Betschart. The Swiss ladies won 23-25, 22-20, 16-14.

The results (preliminary league): Men’s volleyball: Pool A: Italy bt Canada 26-28, 18-25, 25-21, 25-18, 15-11; Japan bt Venezuela 25-20, 25-21, 25-15. Pool B: Brazil bt Tunisia 25-22, 25-20, 25-15; Russia bt Argentina 21-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-21. Beach volleyball: Men:Pool A: Ilya Leshukov & Konstanin Semenov (RUS) bt Pablo Herrera Allepuz & Adrian Gavira Collado (ESP) 21-19, 22-20. Pool D: Alison Cerutti & Morais Filho Alvaro (BRA) bt Nicolas Capogrosso & Julian Amado Azaad (ARG) 21-16, 21-17; Alexander Brouwer & Robert Meeuwsen (NED) bt Philip Dalhausser & Nicholas Lucena (USA) 21-17, 21-18. Women: Pool A: Sarah Pavan & Melissa Humana-Paredes (CAN) bt Katja Stam & Raisa Schoon (NED) 21-16, 21-14; Anouk Verge-Depre (SWI) bt Julia Sude & Karla Sude (GER) 21-8, 21-23, 15-6. Pool C: Agatha Bednarczuk & Eduarda Lisboa Santos (BRA) bt Ana Gallay & Fernanda Pereyra (ARG) 21-19, 21-11; Fan Wang & Xinyi Xia bt Heather Bansley & Brandie Wilkerson (CAN) 18-21, 21-15, 15-11. Pool F: Tanja Huberli & Nina Betschart (SWI) bt Laura Ludwig & Margareta Kozuch (GER) 23-25, 22-20, 16-14.