Latvia’s Aleksandrs Samoilovs and Janis Smedins bounced back from their Rio 2016 disappointment by winning their final two pool matches ©FIVB

Latvia’s Aleksandrs Samoilovs and Janis Smedins bounced back from their Rio 2016 disappointment by winning their final two pool matches on their way to the knock-out round of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Long Beach Grand Slam.

The Latvian pair, who exited the Olympic tournament in the Brazilian city at the first stage of the competition, completed their 100 per cent record to ensure they finished in top spot in Pool B.

They overcame German pair Stefan Windscheif and Tilo Backhaus in their opening game on day two with a comfortable 21-14, 21-13 victory.

Samoilovs and Smedins then proved too strong for another German duo in Jonathan Erdmann and Bennet Poniewaz, emerging with a 22-20, 21-16 success.

“It was a big shock for us, for our fans for all of our team, for our country, because everybody was expecting a medal from us,” Samoilovs said on the Rio exit.

“And also there were 15 teams that were also going for a medal and it was hard.

“It was big pressure from everybody and for us. 

"Only a medal would satisfy us, especially for Janis because he got a bronze in the last Olympics."

Liliana Fernandez and Elsa Baquerizo of Spain booked their spot in the elimination phase ©FIVB
Liliana Fernandez and Elsa Baquerizo of Spain booked their spot in the elimination phase ©FIVB

He added: "But this is sports and that’s why it’s so interesting.

“If it would be always the strong team wins, it wouldn’t be that interesting.

“Everybody is waiting for good teams to lose so it becomes more interesting.”

American Olympians Nick Lucena and Phil Dalhausser were also among the teams to progress through to the next round of the men’s tournament with an unbeaten record, along with Adrian Gavira and Pablo Herrera of Spain and Brazilian pair Pedro Solberg and Evandro.

In the women’s event, Liliana Fernandez and Elsa Baquerizo of Spain booked their spot in the elimination phase as they fought back from a set down to beat Swiss seventh-seeded Olympians Isabelle Forrer and Anouk Verge-Depre, 19-21, 21-14, 15-8.

“We had to come from behind and we played better defense after the first set," Baquerizo said. 

"Liliana had some great plays at the night, I got some digs and we both served pretty well."

“We came here from Rio disappointed with a ninth-place finish and we are working hard to do better than that here in Long Beach.”

They will be joined in the main draw by Olympic bronze medallists Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross of the United States, who battled to a 21-19, 18-21, 15-3 victory against Brazil’s Liliane Maestrini and Maria Antonelli.