There were victories for Brazil and the USA in the finals of the FIVB Long Beach Grand Slam ©FIVB

Brazilian duo Evandro Goncalves and Pedro Solberg secured a 21-19, 17-21, 15-9 win over Americans Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena to win their second gold medal of the season at the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Long Beach Grand Slam.

It was the second time in less than two months that the Brazilian pair got the better of Dalhausser and Lucena in a final, after they beat them to capture the Gstaad Major in July.

In a game where both teams were still reeling from a disappointing Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Goncalves and Solberg restored some confidence in themselves.

"It means Evandro and I, even after the Olympics where we didn’t do what was expected, are still strong and even after a hard moment we came back strong so I’m very happy for that," said Pedro, after the pair were knocked out in the last 16 at Rio 2016.

“I’m happy to see how this team can work even in tough situations."

Americans Lucena and Dalhausser built a 17-14 lead in the first set before Goncalves came up with two big blocks to spark a five point run which saw them claim the opener.

After the Americans levelled things up in the second, the Brazilians took the third and decisive set which saw them close out the match.

Goncalves and Solberg nearly didn’t make the trip following the Olympics and even when they arrived, Solberg was ill.

"I’ve been sick the whole week, I’m feeling bad right now but it’s great to have my partner’s help this whole week," said Solberg.

The gold medal earned the duo a prize of $57,000 (£43,500/€51,000) plus enough points to qualify for the year-ending World Tour Finals next month in Toronto.

Brazilian duo Evandro Goncalves and Pedro Solberg beat Americans Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena ©FIVB
Brazilian duo Evandro Goncalves and Pedro Solberg beat Americans Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena ©FIVB

In the women's competition, the Rio Olympic bronze medallists Kerri Walsh-Jennings and April Ross marched to the gold medal with a win over Spain’s Liliana Fernandez and Elsa Baquerizo.

The top-seeded American duo won in two sets over the seventh-seeded Olympians, 21-16, 21-16 in just 50 minutes.

The Americans remain unbeaten with a 4-0 record against the Spaniards including three victories this season.

In the first set, the Spanish pairing led early at 5-4, which would be their last lead of the match as the US duo went on to win that set convincingly.

The second set was tied nine times before the Americans saw out the victory.

Walsh-Jennings, a triple Olympic champion, and Ross have now won 11 gold medals and three silvers alongside two fourth-place finishes.