Cubans Nivaldo and Sergio start with 2-0 in Vienna

VIENNA, Austria, July 31, 2017 – Cubans Nivaldo Díaz and Sergio Gonzalez are among teams representing NORCECA countries who are undefeated after two days of competition at the FIVB Men’s Beach Volleyball World Championship.

Three other pairs from United States and two teams from Canada have also 2-0 win-loss records.

Nivaldo and Sergio achieved victories over Austria’s Kunnert and Dressler and Trinidad & Tobago’s Williams and Phillip. The Cuban tandem, quarterfinalists at Rio Olympic Games, defeated the Austrian pair 21-18, 21-13 and then beat the Trinidadian duo 21-17, 21-14.

Also United States’ teams of Phil Dalhauser/Nick Lucena, Jacob Gibb/Taylor Crabb and Casey Patterson/Theodore Brunner are undefeated in two outings.

Dalhauser/Lucena had victories over Guatemala’s Andy Leonardo and Luis García 21-18, 21-18 and against countrymen John Hyden and Ryan Doherty 17-21, 21-18, 16-14.

Gibb/Crabb claimed wins over Capogrosso/Azaad of Argentina 21-18, 21-17 and Paraguay’s Goyo/Roger 21-13, 21-14.

Meanwhile, Patterson/Brunner subdued Austria’s Seidl Rob/Winter 21-17, 21-17 and South Africa’s Naidoo/Williams 21-18, 21-12.

Canada’s Sam Pedlow and Sam Schachter beat Candra/Ashfiya of Indonesia 21-13, 21-12 and edged Ermacora/Pristauz of Austria 21-11, 18-21, 15-11.

Also Canadians Ben Saxton and Chaim Schalk overcame Iran’s Raoufi/Salemi 20-22, 21-16, 15-13 and downed compatriots Vandenburg/Nusbaum 21-14, 21-19.