Russia and Poland clash in the night session of day two

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 6, 2016 – Russia’s #8 seed, Viacheslav Krasilnikov/Konstantin Semenov take on Poland’s #17 seed, Grzegorz Fijalek/Mariusz Prudel in pool E action during the night session on day two.  The Poles will be trying to improve on a 5th-place finish in London (2012) while Konstantin and his new partner will be trying to advance further than his 9th in London.

Head to Head

The two teams have split their two meetings in FIVB World Tour competition, with both meetings in 2014.  The Russians won the first match for the gold medal at the Moscow Grand Slam in June, 23-21 and 21-17 in 38 minutes.  Six days later, the Poles got their revenge in a round of 24 match, winnings 21-19 and 21-14 in 35 minutes.  The two teams did play in the semi-finals of the European (CEV) Continental Championships in June of this year, with Krasilnikov/Semenov winning 21-17 and 21-17 in 36 minutes.

Historically the #8 seed and the #17 seed have split their previous four matches in the Olympic Games, all in the first round.  The #8 seed won 15-6 in Sydney (2000) and 19-21, 22-20, and 15-7 in 62 minutes in Beijing (2008), while the #17 pulled the upset in Athens (2004), 21-16 and 21-14 in 39 minutes, and 19-21, 23-21, and 15-9 in London (2012) in the closest match.

Viacheslav Krasilnikov/Konstantin Semenov, Russia, Seed #8, Pool E, Qualified 9th with 5,230 Points in the 2015-16 Olympic qualification period

• Viacheslav: April 28, 1991 (25y3m9d), 196 cm (6’5″), 73 kg (162 lbs.), Hometown Gelengzik, 34th FIVB World Tour event, one gold medal, $176,387 career winnings

• Konstantin: June 9, 1989 (27y1m28d), 210 cm (6’11”), 100 kg (222 lbs.), Hometown Tokmak, Kyrgyzstan, 74th FIVB World Tour event, two gold medals, $269,362 career winnings (ranks 77th)

• Viacheslav and Konstantin have been playing together since 2013. They are playing in their 32nd FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour tournament together, one gold medal, …

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