Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 6, 2016 - It was “oh so good” for the M&Ms of The Netherlands here Saturday evening as “Madelein” Meppelink and “Marleen” Van Iersel posted their opening win of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games by defeating Norisbeth Agudo and Olaya Pazo of Venezuela in the second of two women’s Pool F matches.
In a group featuring two Olympic qualifiers from the FIVB World Tour and two Rio pairs that earned their berths via the Continental Cup competition, Meppelink and Van Iersel scored a 2-0 (21-17, 21-11) win in 36 minutes over Agudo and Pazo. The Venezuelans earned their ticket to Rio by winning the South American confederation’s Continental Cup event at the end of June in Argentina.
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Earlier Saturday, FIVB World Tour qualifiers Louise Bawden and Taliqua Clancy of Australia defeated Natalia Alfaro and Karen Charles of Costa Rica 2-0 (21-15, 21-14) in 40 minutes. The Costa Ricans claimed their berth to Copacabana by winning the NORCECA Continental Cup event in Mexico at the end of June.
After winning the first set by scoring seven of the last 10 points in opening confrontation by breaking away from a 14-14 tie, Meppelink and Van Iersel never trailed in the final set.
All four teams in Pool F will have Sunday off before returning to action Monday with the Meppelink and Van Iersel playing Alfaro and Charles and the Australians being challenged by Agudo and Pazo.
