Germany’s Erdmann/Matysik and Brazil’s Oscar/Andre set to battle for men’s gold at 2016 FIVB Fortaleza Open

Fortaleza, Brazil, April 30, 2016 — Challenging the competition along with constant strong winds, swirling sand, pervasive heat and one day of a tropical rain storm, Germany’s sixth-seeded Jonathan Erdmann/Kay Matysik duo has earned a spot against Brazil’s 22nd-seeded Oscar Brandao/Andre Loyola in the gold medal match of the FIVB Fortaleza Open. The medal matches for both genders will all be played on Sunday with the awarding ceremony following the last gold medal match concluding the event. The FIVB Fortaleza Open is being played at the purpose built stadium at Praia do Futuro in Fortaleza, site of last week’s season finale of the Brazilian National Tour.Germany’s Erdman/Matysik earned their spot in the gold medal match with a three-set semifinal win by holding off Chile’s seventh-seeded cousins Marco Grimalt/Esteban Grimalt and Brazil’s 22nd-seeded Oscar Brandao/Andre Loyola ambushed Mexico’s third-seeded Lombardo Ontiveros/Juan Virgen, winning their semi in straight sets.Chile’s M. Grimalt/E. Grimalt and Mexico’s Ontiveros/Virgin will meet in the men’s bronze medal match Sunday morning prior to the two gold medal matches.GOLD MEDAL PREVIEWMeeting in the first FIVB World Tour gold medal match for either team, Germany’s Erdmann/Matysik are playing in their 68th international tournament with six final four finishes with three bronze medals and three fourth place finishes. It is the first tournament back on the tour since FIVB Rio Grand Slam in early March. The team has been in training only while Matysik recovered from an injury. The German duo enters the gold medal match with a 6-1 record in this tournament. And heir last final four finish as a team was a fourth place finish at the FIVB Olsztyn Grand Slam in Poland.Individually, Erdmann in his seventh FIVB World Tour final four with three bronze medals and three fourth place finishes. For Matysik, this is eighth FIVB World Tour final four with four bronze medals and three fourth place finishes. Summarizing both of his teams victories Saturday to earn an opportunity for the gold medal, Erdmann said, “We have been looking forward to getting back into competition and we have played methodically here in Fortaleza. We played two very good and two very different teams today from the USA and Chile. Both are aggressive but we concentrated on staying calm and relaxed and just work our game plans and in both matches today it really worked. We are very excited to be in our first FIVB World Tour gold medal match and of course we want to bring some gold back to Germany.”Brazil’s Oscar, 30, and Andre, 21, are playing in just …

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