2013 World Champs face Russian Continental Cup Qualifiers

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 5, 2016 – The #2 seed, Alexander Brouwer/Robert Meeuwsen of the Netherlands takes on Russia’s #23 seed Dmitri Barsouk/Nikita Liamin in the first Pool B match. Brouwer/Meeuwsen burst onto the scene, getting their first FIVB World Tour gold medal at the World Championships in Stare Jablonki, Poland in 2013 and are hoping to find similar magic in their first Olympic Games competition.  Russia’s Dimitry Barsouk is happy to be back in the Olympic Games after finishing 9th with Igor Kolodinsky in 2008 (Beijing) but missing out in the London 2012 Games.

Head to Head

The two teams met one time previously on the FIVB World Tour, with Brouwer/Meeuwsen winning a tough three-set match in the round of 24 at the Vitória Open in March, 20-22, 21-19, and 15-21 in 45 minutes.  

Historically the #2 seed has won three of the four meetings in Olympic Games competition.  In Beijing, Latvian youngsters Martins Plavins/Aleksandrs Samoilovs upset USA’s Phil Dalhausser/Todd Rogers in straight sets in their Olympic openers.  Dalhausser/Rogers recovered and captured the gold medal despite the opening-round pool play loss.

Alexander Brouwer/Robert Meeuwsen, Netherlands, Seed #2, Pool B, Qualified 2nd with 6,470 Points in the 2015-16 Olympic qualification period

• Alexander: November 3, 1989 (26y9m3d), 198 cm (6’6″), 88 kg (195 lbs.), Hometown Leiden, 70th FIVB World Tour event, two gold medals, $314,050 career winnings (ranks 61st)

• Robert: March 21, 1988 (28y4m16d), 207 cm (6’9″), 92 kg (204 lbs.), Hometown Nieuwegein, 61st FIVB World Tour event, two gold medals, $305,862 career winnings (ranks 66th)

• Alexander and Robert have been playing together since 2011. They are playing in their 59th FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour tournament together (ranks 42nd), two gold medals, $611,725 career winnings (ranks 27th).

• Alexander has played in 13 FIVB World Tour final fours with two …

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