American qualifiers upset Latvian world champions in João Pessoa

The first day of women's main draw matches at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour João Pessoa Elite was marked by what could become one of the biggest upsets of the entire 2026 season.

Playing their first match since their victory at the 2025 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship last November, Latvians Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova were taken down by American qualifiers Savvy Simo and Devon Newberry on Wednesday in Brazil.

• Watch the João Pessoa Elite live on VBTV

Latvians and Americans met in the afternoon, in the first match of Pool C, and the 27-year-old Savvy and the 25-year-old Newberry came out on top, beating the reigning world champions 2-1 (21-18, 20-22, 15-10) in their first tournament together to take an important step towards qualifying for the elimination rounds.

The Americans had made their official team debut just a few hours earlier, topping Hungarians Lilla Villám and Stefánia Kun in another three-setter (20-22, 21-9, 16-14) in the qualifier.

Pool C had another American victory on the first day of matches in João Pessoa, with Piper Ferch and Teegan Van Gunst overcoming the home team of Kyce Silva and Talita Simonetti 2-1 (21-14, 16-21, 15-11).

Cheng and Kraft debut with a win

Two other American duos started their campaigns in João Pessoa with positive results. Playing together for the first time, 2023 world champion Kelly Cheng and new partner Megan Kraft prevailed over Paraguayan Olympians Michelle Valiente and Giuliana Corrales, winning in straight sets (21-18, 21-17) in Pool D.

In the same pool, Brazilian veterans Talita Antunes and Taiana Lima came out on top in a three-set battle (21-16, 13-21, 15-13) against Americans Hailey Harward and Xolani Hodel.

In Pool B, Americans Kristen Cruz (formerly Nuss) and Taryn Brasher took down Danish qualifiers Sofia Bisgaard and Cirkeline Høg in two sets (21-18, 21-18), while Italians Claudia Scampoli and Giada Bianchi defeated Brazilians Verena Oliveira and Thainara Feitosa also 2-0 (22-20, 21-13).

Pool A, on the other hand, brought a tough first day for the Americans, with Brazilian Olympic champions Eduarda 'Duda' Lisboa and Ana Patrícia Ramos handling qualifiers Kamila Tan and Tiffany Svenssohn in two sets (21-16, 21-14) and Germans Melanie Paul and Lea Kunst sweeping (21-16, 21-17) Abby Van Winkle and Molly Phillips.

Pool E had a pair of three-setters, with Brazilians Thâmela Coradello and Victoria Lopes beating Canadians Sophie Bukovec and Lea Monkhouse 2-1 (19-21, 21-15, 15-13) and French Olympians Clémence Vieira and Aline Chamereau also needing the tie-breaker (18-21, 21-19, 15-7) to overcome Czechs Kylie Neuschaeferova and Martina Maixnerova.

Starting ahead in Pool F were Germans Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann, who topped Brazilian qualifiers Carolina Horta and Elize Maia 2-1 (18-21, 21-15, 15-11), and Dutch Olympians Raisa Schoon and Katja Stam, who swept (21-14, 21-19) Lithuanians Ieva Vasiliauskaite and Erika Kliokmanaite.

Beach Pro Tour João Pessoa Elite - Match Schedule & Results

The women's main draw continues on Thursday in João Pessoa, with another 12 matches, six in each pool.

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