Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 9, 2016 - After being upset in their opening match Sunday in the Beach Volleyball competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Daniele Lupo and Paolo Nicolai regained their focus here Tuesday evening to post their first win in Pool C by defeating Choaib Belhaj and Mohamed Naceur of Tunisia.
With the Tunisians qualifying for the Copacabana quadrennial via the African Continental Cup competition, Lupo and Nicolai dispatched of their first-time opponent 2-0 (21-17, 21-13) in 37 minutes. The Italians were upset Sunday by Lombardo Ontiveros and Juan Virgen of Mexico in three sets.
Lupo and Nicolai end group action Thursday against Pool C leaders Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena of the United States, who defeated Ontiveros and Virgen 2-0 (21-14, 21-17) earlier Tuesday in 40 minutes. The Americans lead the international series 2-1 with Nicolai and Lupo, including a gold medal win over the Italians at the Fuzhou Open in China.
Belhaj and Mohamed end group action Thursday against Ontiveros and Virgen, who defeated the Tunisians in pool play at the 37th in the 2015 FIVB World Championships in The Netherlands.