Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Team USA’s Dalhausser, Lucena go eight match points deep to win Pool C

Beach Volleyball - Olympics: Day 4

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 09: Phil Dalhausser (R) and Nicholas Lucena of United States celebrate a point during the Men’s Beach Volleyball Preliminary Pool C match against Rodolfo Lombardo Ontiveros Gomez and Juan Ramon Virgen Pulido of Mexico of Mexico on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Beach Volleyball Arena on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Well, that was a thriller.

Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena had anything but an easy finale for pool play in men’s beach volleyball.

The Team USA duo needed every ounce of energy to Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo of Italy.

The Yanks cruised through the first set with a 21-13 score line, but Italy responded with a 21-17 second set.

That’s where things got nutty. Dalhausser and Lucena went deep into tie breaks before pulling off a 24-22 win.

Follow @NicholasMendola