Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson of the United States fought back to reach the semi-finals in Moscow ©FIVB

Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson of the United States launched a spirited third-set fightback to earn victory over defending International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Moscow Grand Slam champions Adrian Gavira and Pablo Herrera of Spain in a thrilling quarter-final today.

Having each claimed one of the opening two sets, the contest headed into a decider and the Spanish team were on course to book their place in the last four when they led 13-11.

But the Americans slowly edged their way back into the set and eventually managed to seal a dramatic 21-17, 13-21, 16-14 win against the 12th seeds, whose triumph during last year’s event in the Russian capital was their first-ever on the FIVB World Tour.

Gibb and Patterson will face fifth-seeded Dutch duo Reinder Nummerdor and Christiaan Varenhorst in the semi-finals after they overcame compatriots Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen 21-17, 26-24.

Reigning FIVB world champions Alison Cerutti and Bruno Oscar Schmidt of Brazil are also through to the last four thanks to a 21-19, 21-18 success in their clash with Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo.

Their opponents in the next round will be Polish pair Bartosz Losiak and Piotr Kantor, who beat Brazilians Vitor Felipe and Alvaro Filho 23-25, 21-16, 15-7 in a match which lasted 52 minutes.

“I think our serving was the difference,” Gibb said.

“Pablo and Adrian were side-out masters that match. 

“We could not stop them.

“So we had to serve tough.

Heather Bansley and Sarah Pavan of Canada booked their place in the last four with a hard-fought 14-21, 21-11, 15-11 win against Monika Brzosteka and Kinga Kolosinska
Heather Bansley and Sarah Pavan of Canada booked their place in the last four with a hard-fought 14-21, 21-11, 15-11 win against Monika Brzosteka and Kinga Kolosinska ©FIVB

“And that was really the only way we scored. 

“So Casey, his serving in the end won that one for us.”

In the women’s draw, Heather Bansley and Sarah Pavan of Canada booked their place in the last four with a hard-fought 14-21, 21-11, 15-11 win against Monika Brzosteka and Kinga Kolosinska of Poland.

Second seeds and defending tournament champions Talita Antunes and Larissa Franca of Brazil await in the next round as they proved too strong for Germany’s Karla Borger and Britta Buthe with a comfortable 22-20, 21-10 success.

April Ross and Kerri Walsh Jennings, a three-time Olympic champion, joined team-mates Gibb and Patterson in reaching the semi-finals as they beat Eduarda Lisboa and Elize Maia of Brazil 21-10, 21-15.

Juliana Felisberta and Taiana Lima of Brazil swept aside Swiss duo Joana Heidrich and Nadine Zumkehr 21-19, 21-14 to set up a meeting with the Americans tomorrow.