News 07/06/2018 Italians rule qualifiers at Nantong Nantong, China, June 7, 2018 – Italian pairs Arianna Barboni/Silvia Costantini and Alice Gradini/Claudia Puccinelli came up with two victories on Thursday to reach the main draw of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Silk Road Nantong Open at the Nantong Adventure Land.Barboni/Costantini made convincing wins against Asian opponents in straight sets. They opened the tournament with a 2-0 (21-13, 21-17) win over Thailand’s Chanthira/Khanok/Sumitra Sow and then followed-up with a 2-0 (21-18, 21-18) triumph against Japan’s Reika Murakami/Chiyo Suzuki.Gradini/Puccinelli faced compatriots Andrea Nucete-Elliot/Rebecca Perry in the first round, posting a 2-1 (21-15, 19-21, 15-7) win before recording a 2-0 (21-14, 21-18) win over Canada’s Marie-Christine Lapointe/Charlotte Sider.Quick links - Beach volleyball:FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour - NantongFIVB.com - Beach VolleyballLatest VideosFacebookTwitterInstagramThe United States’ McKenna Thibodeau/Madison Witt are also the day’s double-match winners in the hard-fought 2-1 (21-19, 16-21, 15-10) encounter with Japan’s Sakurako Fujii/Samaa Miyagawa and the easier battle with Latvia’s Alise Lece/Ilze Liepinlauska 2-0 (21-17, 21-16).In the first round, China’s Dong Jie/Hang Ting defeated Israel’s Michal Barannik/Anita Deev 2-1 (17-21, 21-19, 15-10), but Chinese side were powerless against the much stronger Israeli duo Noy Chorin/Sofia Starikov, who made short work of their rivals 2-0 (21-11, 21-4).Hong Kong’s Wai Yan Au Yeung/Ting Chi Yuen beat Poland’s Agata Ceynowa/Martyna Kloda 2-1 (21-19, 14-21, 15-13), Thailand’s Prosnuda Kritsana/Yodsaphat Pakham routed Canada’s Caleigh Cruickshank/Megan Nagy 2-1 (19-21, 25-23, 15-11) in the second round matches. Print this Page News {{item.LocalShortDate}} {{item.Title}} All the News