Latvia and surprising Cubans looking to take control of pool D

Rio de Janeiro, August 9, 2016 – Latvia’s Aleksandrs Samoilovs/Janis Smedins and Cuba’s Nivaldo Diaz/Sergio Gonzalez start off the afternoon session of day four in a battle to control pool D.  Both teams won their openers in three sets and are looking to move into the elimination stage with a win.

Head to Head

The two teams have never met in FIVB World Tour competition

Historically the #9 seed has won all three previous matches in the Olympic Games, all in pool play.  In London (2012) and Beijing (2008), the higher seed won in straight sets, and in Athens (2004), the lower seed forced a third set, falling 18-21, 21-19, and 15-10 in 69 minutes.

Aleksandrs Samoilovs/Janis Smedins, Latvia, Seed #9, Pool D, 1-0, 2.000 Set Ratio, 1.0588 Point Ratio, Qualified 8th with 5,390 Points in the 2015-16 Olympic qualification period

• Aleksandrs: April 6, 1985 (31y4m0d), 196 cm (6’5″), 96 kg (213 lbs.), Hometown Riga, 136th FIVB World Tour event (ranks 24th), nine gold medals (ranks 21st), $590,087 career winnings (ranks 25th)

• Janis: July 31, 1987 (29y0m6d), 191 cm (6’3″), 84 kg (186 lbs.), Hometown Kuldiga, 98th FIVB World Tour event (ranks 80th), 10 gold medals (ranks 17th), $509,987 career winnings (ranks 33rd)

• Aleksandrs and Janis have been playing together since 2013. They are playing in their 47th FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour tournament together (ranks 58th), nine gold medals (ranks 10th), $771,675 career winnings (ranks 16th).

• Aleksandrs has played in 22 FIVB World Tour final fours with nine gold, six silver, three bronze medals and four 4th place finishes.

• Janis has played in 25 FIVB World Tour final fours with 10 gold, six silver, four bronze medals and five 4th place finishes.

• Aleksandrs and Janis have played in 10 Final Fours in 2015-2016 (Silver Gstaad Major 2015, Gold Rio de Janeiro Open 2015, Gold Sochi Open 2015, Bronze Xiamen Open 2015, 4th Fuzhou Open 2016, …

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