John Hyden and Ryan Doherty, right, were among the winners on a superb day for United States ©FIVB

United States ensured Brazilian pairs did not have it all their own way with a day of superb performances in rainy conditions at the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Beach World Tour event at the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro.

Held on a converted tennis court used at last year's Olympic Games in Barra de Tijuca, the US secured three male and one female quarter finals spots while two male and three female pairs from Brazil progressed.

Forty-four-year-old John Hyden and American partner Ryan Doherty first beat home qualifiers Oscar Brandao and Hevaldo Moreira 21-19, 25-23 before a shock 21-16, 17-21 23-21 success over fifth seeds Gustavo "Guto" Carvalhaes and Pedro Solberg to reach the quarter-finals.

Jake Gibb, 41, continued a good day for the veterans by teaming up with Taylor Crabb to beat Adrian Carambula and Alex Ranghieri of Italy 21-17, 25-23.

Theo Brunner and Casey Patterson completed the US success by beating Spaniards Pablo Herrera and Adrián Gavira 21-15, 23-21. 

But reigning world and Olympic champions Alison Cerutti and Bruno Oscar Schmidt and international tour leaders Alvaro Filho and Saymon Barbosa remain the home favourites after each progressed comfortably into the last-eight. 

Kelly Claes (left) and Sarah Hughes also progressed into the quarter-finals for United States ©FIVB
Kelly Claes (left) and Sarah Hughes also progressed into the quarter-finals for United States ©FIVB

Cerutti and Schmidt won 21-11, 21-18 over Kacper Kujawiak and Mariusz Prudel of Poland while Filho and Barbosa ousted compatriots and third-seeded Evandro Goncalves and Andre Loyola 21-18, 21-18.

Top seeds Talita Antunes and Larissa Franca led the Brazilian charge in the corresponding women's competition.

They enjoyed a straightforward 21-17, 21-16 success over Louise Bawden and Taliqua Clancy of Australia

Fourth-seeded Agatha Bednarczuk and Eduarda "Duda" Lisboa were forced to battle hard before beating Switzerland's Nina Betschart and Tanja Hüberli 21-16, 18-21, 15-12.

Fernanda Alves and Barbara Seixas beat Heather Bansley and Brandie Wilkerson of Canada 21-18, 11-21, 17-15.

Kelly Claes and Sarah Hughes ensured US success by beating Brazilians Taiana Lima and Elize Maia 10-21, 21-18, 15-9.

Germany's Olympic champions Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst also safely progressed with a regulation 21-13, 21-17 win over Valentyna Davidova and Ievgeniia Shchypkova of Ukraine.

Quarter-finals and semi-finals are scheduled for tomorrow before all medal matches on Sunday (May 21).