The 4-star event in Rio is the latest stop on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, and the rain was threatening from the start.
The rain finally arrived, and when it did, it was fierce.
Canada’s Heather Bansley and Brandie Wilkerson played through some of the heaviest rain to advance.
The Swiss women’s team of Anouk Vergé-Dépré and Joana Heidrich also were winning.
Austria's Lena Plesiutschnig and Teresa Strauss faced Ukraine's Valentyna Davidova and Ievgeniia Shchypkova in the wet for a chance to advance.
But Austria was the team finished for the tournament.
Young Americans Kelly Claes and Sara Hughes went to Rio right after winning two US collegiate championships on consecutive weekends, and they’re doing great!
Agatha and Duda thrilled the home fans with a big win!
The rain kept falling, and that meant Larissa and Talita had to adjust to the conditions.
The men started their play later in the morning, and Mexico's Lombardo Ontiveros and Juan Virgen got a solid win over Israel to advance.
Evandro won on center court with Andre, and took time out to thank the fans for coming.
But it was a rough week for the German men.
Olympic gold medalist Bruno Schmidt doesn’t mind playing in the rain!
And, yes, the rain kept on falling.
Then it was time to start determining Saturday’s quarterfinalists, but first, the draw.
The Czech team of Barbora Hermannová and Marketa Slukova quickly won to claim their spot.
The Olympic champs Laura Ludwig & Kira Walkenhorst also won to get into the QFs.
Brazil’s Barbara and Fernanda know they will be playing on Saturday.
There’s that Claes/Hughes duo again, and the USA team is in the quarters!
The men’s draw for the knockout stages was taking place, too.
USA’s Casey Patterson and Theo Brunner won and moved on…and they’re all smiles!
There was an all-Brazil match for a QF spot…who were the fans cheering for in this one?
Álvaro Filho and Saymon won, and it was quite a comeback!
Who else advanced? Italy’s silver medalists Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo…is a rematch of the Rio 2016 gold medal match in their future?
Speaking of gold medals, Alison and Bruno Schmidt won to move into the QFs…maybe they are thinking of that rematch with Italy, as well?
Last match of the night was a fun one, as USA’s John Hyden and Ryan Doherty won and became the third USA men’s team in the quarterfinals!
That’s all for Friday here in Rio. See you on Saturday for the quarterfinals!