Dalhausser and Lucena light up home crowd to move one win away from FIVB World Tour Finals title

Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena were on superb form to secure a home presence in tomorrow's men's final ©FIVB

Home stars Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena set-up a rematch with Brazilian world champions Alison Cerutti and Bruno Oscar Schmidt in tomorrow's International Volleyball (FIVB) World Tour Finals after a superb victory in a feverish atmosphere here today.

With Brazilian pairs to the fore in both the male and female competitions throughout the day, it had been their fans who had been the loudest in a taste of what is likely to come during next summer's Olympic competition on Copacabana Beach.

But when the giant Beijing 2008 Olympic champion Dalhausser, nicknamed "The Thin Beast", took to the court with partner Lucena for the final match of the day, the green and yellow was suddenly replaced by stars and stripes, as thousands of rampant fans packed-out the idyllic 4,000-capacity beachside stadium to create an atmosphere fulfilling every stereotype associated with the sport.

With Dalhausser leading the way with numerous trademark blocks, the Americans took the first set 21-18 before Dutch opponents Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen displayed the fighting qualities which earned them the 2013 world title to win the second 21-19.

Yet as the crowd noise grow, this only caused the home duo to raise their level, emerging on top in several outstanding rallies which combined full-length dives and booming smashes with subtle variation and precise placement.

A final smash saw them win the decider 15-12 in a match Daulhausser admitted afterwards was "probably the funnest" he has ever played in.

They may have to raise their level further if they are to gain a second victory over Cerutti and Schmidt, the Brazilian world champions who lost to the Americans in their pool match-up on Wednesday (September 30).

The Brazilians have grown into the tournament, and after winning a quarter-final this morning, were too strong for team-mates Evandro Goncalves and Pedro Solberg in their last four clash.

The American pair were triumphant in an highly charged atmosphere in Fort Lauderdale ©Twitter/Swatch Major Series

With Rio de Janeiro-born Cerutti leading the way, the duo won a tight first set before fighting back in the second, requiring four match-points to win it 23-21 and continue their superb season.

There will also be a Brazilian presence in the women's final after second-seeded Talita Antunes and Larissa Franca won 21-19, 21-12 in 37 minutes over third-seeded Heather Bansley and Sarah Pavan of Canada.

The duo have won six FIVB World Tour gold medals this season and 10 overall since forming their partnership in July 2014.

“We played much better today than yesterday,” said the 33-year old Talita.

“We expected it would be a hard match, all of the teams here are really good.”

Many expected them to meet their world champion compatriots in tomorrow's final but Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas were ultimately beaten over three tough sets by Germans Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst.

The fifth-seeded Europeans enjoyed a third successive win over the Brazilians, although they were pushed all the way in a 55-minute battle which they ultimately won 21-15, 20-22, 15-13.

Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst celebrate victory for Germany in the women's semi-final ©Swatch Major Series/Joerg Mitter

“We are so happy,” said the 29-year old Ludwig.

“That was a really hard match.

"We know how good they are.

"After playing them yesterday, we knew they would change their strategy, so we had to focus and make adjustments."

Both finals will take place tomorrow, along with two bronze medal matches, with a $100,000 prize (£66,000/€90,000) for the winning duo in both events.