Thanks to excellent performances from Thamela Coradelo/Victoria Lopes and Vitória Rodrigues/Hegeile ‘Hegê’ Almeida, beach volleyball powerhouse Brazil managed to keep their three teams alive in the race for the title of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Ostrava Elite.

The two Brazilian duos were among the six teams that overcame the Round of 18 of the women’s tournament held at the at the iconic Lower Vítkovice industrial heritage on Friday and will join pool winners Carol Salgado and Rebecca Cavalcanti in the Round of 12 of the Czech event on Saturday.

• Watch the Beach Pro Tour Ostrava Elite live on VBTV

Fresh from making it to the top of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Rankings, Thamela and Victoria, who finished second in Pool E, had a fierce battle with American Olympians Kristen Nuss and Taryn Brasher in the Round of 18 in Ostrava. The Brazilians started behind, but regrouped after their first-set loss and came back to win 2-1 (15-21, 21-19, 15-13) and advance.

In the Round of 12, the winners of the Saquarema Elite, in April, will face the Austrian Klinger sisters Ronja and Dorina, who advanced directly to the Round of 12 after they ranked first in Pool B. The duel between Brazilians and Austrians is scheduled for 11:30 local time (9:30 GMT) on Saturday.

Vitória and Hegê, who were third in Pool C, had no easier task in the Round of 18, matching up with Germans Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann, the reigning European champions and the number three team in the world right now. The Brazilians built from an incredible victory in the first set to take the match 2-0 (33-31, 21-13) and make it to the Round of 12.

Their next opponents in Ostrava will be the silver medalists of last year’s Paris Olympics, Canadians Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Paredes, who were the top team in Pool F. The duel is scheduled for 10:40 local time (8:40 GMT).

Two American duos advance

Despite Nuss and Brasher’s setback, the United States still managed to advance two teams from the Round of 18 to the Round of 12 in the Czech event. One of them was formed by world champion Kelly Cheng and partner Molly Shaw, who knocked the home team of Marketa Svozilova and Marie-Sara Stochlova out with a two-set (21-15, 21-15) victory and will now face Latvian Olympians Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova.

Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft also continue alive after they won the domestic battle against compatriots Kimberly Hildreth and Keegan Van Gunst in straight sets (21-17, 21-18). Brazilians Carol and Rebecca will be their next opponents.

Beach Pro Tour Ostrava Elite – Match Schedule and Results

The fifth American duo to get on the court in the Round of 18 in Ostrava, Julia Scoles and Lexy Denaburg had no luck against the Swiss Vergé-Dépré sisters Anouk and Zoé, falling in two sets (21-12, 21-13). The Europeans will now face Ukrainian sensations Anhelina Khmil and Valentyna Davidova for a spot in the quarterfinals.

The sixth and last qualified team emerged from another domestic battle, this one featuring duos from Italy. Valentina Gottardi and Reka Orsi Toth got the better of Claudia Scampoli and Giada Bianchi, winning in the tie-breaker (21-15, 16-21, 15-8), and will now meet Swiss Tanja Hüberli and Leona Kernen.

Saturday’s schedule for the women in Ostrava will have the Round of 12 and the quarterfinals. The semifinals and medal matches will conclude the Czech tournament on Sunday.

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