Team USA Men’s Beach Volleyball Eliminated By Brazil

Team USA beach volleyball players Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena teamed up one year ago to make a run at the Rio 2016 Olympics. That run ended with a loss to Brazilians Alison Cerutti and Bruno Schmidt beat the Americans in three sets 21-14, 12-21, 15-9 to advance to the semifinals.

Team USA Men’s Beach Volleyball Eliminated By Brazil

The Brazilians took an 8-5 lead in the first set finishing 21-14.

Dalhausser and Lucena were not going to give up and they won the second set 21-12. In the second they went on a five point run until Cerutti was able to place the ball just out of reach for the Americans putting the Brazilians on the board.

In the third set the Brazilians went on a three point run before Schmidt gave up a point on a serve. The Brazilian team had a block to bring them within one for match point and then a spike off Dalhausser and the world champions Brazil were one step closer to the gold medal winning the set 15-9.

Dalhausser/Lucena are now 3-2 with the Brazilians. The pair made a good run for it considering Dalhausser was coming off a season with two straight injuries and Lucena had never been to the Olympics. Dalhausser won gold in Beijing.

The Brazilians will meet the Netherlands Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen on Tuesday at 4:00 pm EST.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 15: Nicholas Lucena #2 of United States spikes the ball against Alison Cerutti #1 of Brazil during the Men’s Beach Volleyball Quarterfinal match between the United States and Brazil on Day 10 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Beach Volleyball Arena on August 15, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)