USA off to a hot start at 2017 FIVB Beach World Championships

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Eight American beach volleyball teams are competing for a $60,000 first-place prize at the 2017 FIVB Beach World Championships from Vienna, Austria.

The United States sent the maximum four women’s and four men’s teams to the 2017 FIVB Beach World Championships, which are being held on the Danube River in Vienna. Teams are competing at the 10-day tournament, with pool play entering its fourth day of action on Monday, July 31.

The U.S. started the World Champs with a 3-0 record after three women’s teams earned victories on July 28. Since then, the USA has only dropped three matches in 17 played among the eight teams.

Olympians Lauren Fendrick and April Ross became the first team to lock up a win of their pool, following their 2-0 victory against Australia on Monday morning that gave them a 3-0 record to start. Ross said after the victory, “We want to put ourselves in the best possible position to go the farthest we can in this tournament.”

In men’s pool play, Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena faced off against compatriots John Hyden/Ryan Doherty in their opening match. Dalhausser/Lucena won the three-set thriller, 17-21, 21-18, 16-14 on July 29.

Women’s pool play concludes on Tuesday, Aug. 1, and the Round of 32 single elimination bracket will then start. Men’s pool play goes through Aug. 2, when their Round of 32 starts, plus the Women’s Round of 16, all on Wednesday.

Matches are live streaming free through the Swatch Major Series Beachstream, and you can view replays and exclusive FIVB content on the FIVB Youtube.

Team USA records as of completion of U.S. matches on July 31:
Lauren Fendrick/April Ross, 3-0
Brooke Sweat/Summer Ross, 2-0
Kelly Claes/Sara Hughes, 2-1
Emily Day/Nicole Branagh, 1-1
Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena, 2-0
Jake Gibb/Taylor Crabb, 2-0
Casey Patterson/Theo Brunner, 2-0
John Hyden/Ryan Doherty, 1-1