Women’s World Champs start off Brazil’s gold medal quest

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 5, 2016 – #2 Seed, 2015 World Champions, Agatha Bednarczuk/Barbara Seixas get the Brazil women started in Rio with the first match of the afternoon session, a Pool B match against the #23 seed Barbora Hermannova/Marketa Slukova of the Czech Republic who were one of the last two teams to qualify in the Continental Cup Championships in Sochi.  Agatha and Barbara are hoping that the home crowd will cheer them on to a gold in Rio while Marketa is hoping to stand on the podium after a fifth-place finish with Kristyna Kolocova in London.

Head to Head

These two teams have met three times previously on the FIVB World Tour, all in 2016, with the Brazilians winning two times and the Czechs claiming one victory. Agatha/Barbara won the last two meetings, a tough three-set match 21-17, 18-21, and 15-12 in 49 minutes in the round of 24 at the Porec Major in the end of June and a 22-20 and 21-13 pool play victory in 34 minutes at the Poland Grand Slam in the middle of the same month.  Hermannova/Slukova won the first meeting in May in a round of 24 match at the Moscow Grand Slam, 21-14, 13-21, and 17-15 in 47 minutes.

Historically the #2 seed has won three of the four matches in the Olympic Games, all in straight sets.  Russia’s Anastasia Barsuk/Anna Vozakova pulled the big upset in London, defeating China’s #2 seed, Chen Xue/Xi Zhang in three sets, 18-21, 21-14, and 16-14 in 53 minutes.

Agatha Bednarczuk/Barbara Seixas, Brazil, Seed #2, Pool B, Qualified as 2015 World Championship Gold Medalists

• Agatha and Barbara began playing together for the 2012 season but played with different partners in 2013. They are playing in their 41st FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour tournament together (ranks 73rd), four gold medals, and $699,200 career winnings (ranks 14th).

• Agatha: June 22, 1983 (33y1m15d), 182 cm (6’0″), 70 kg (155 lbs.), Hometown Curitiba, 96th FIVB World Tour event (ranks 65th), four gold medals,  $472,300 career winnings (ranks 26th)

• Barbara: August 3, 1987 (29y0m3d), 178 cm (5’10”), 67 kg (149 lbs.), …

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