Rising Brazilian stars Maria Antonelli and Liliane Maestrini and Eduarda Duda Lisboa and Elize Maia have each had relatively few opportunities to shine on the international stage due to the presence of their more established compatriots.

But each continued their spearkling form today as pool action concluded in the Atlantic resort.

Antonelli and Maestrini defeated teams from Germany and Poland to net the Pool H title in their first-ever World Tour event together before Duda and Elize Maia, seeded 22nd, posted a 21-16, 21-14 Pool F win over Chen Xu and Xinyi Xia of China in 30 minutes to seal their progress.

“We played very well in the pool and are excited that we defeated more experienced teams,” said the 17-year-old Duda, who has won two FIVB youth World Championships along with a gold medal at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.

“I have to credit my [31-year-old] partner as she really makes me feel comfortable on the court.”

Chantal Laboureur and Julia Sude of Germany qualified the hard way, producing a 21-12, 9-21, 15-13 victory over 10th-seeded Marta Menegatti and Viktoria Orsi Toth of Italy in the morning before an afternoon win over 26th-seeded Lane Carico and Summer Ross of United States, 21-23, 21-14, 15-3. 

Four Brazilian pairs progressed as home dominance continued in the men's competition.

There was comfortable progress for Brazilian top seeds and world champions Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas as well as for their second-seeded team-mates Talita Antunes and Larissa Franca, who each won all three pool stage encounters.

Among the most impressive were Evandro Goncalves and Pedro Solberg who enjoyed wins over pairs from Latvia, United States and Venezuela in Pool A.

“So far, so good,” said the 29-year Pedro, who is starting his 11th-season on the FIVB World Tour.

“We are pleased with our play as this is our first international event since playing last October in the World Tour Finals in the United States."

They will be joined in the elimination phase by 11th-seeded Vitor Felipe and Alvaro Filho, 28th-seeded qualifiers Saymon Barbosa and Gustavo Carvalhaes and 30th-seeded “wild card” entry Oscar Brandao and Andre Loyola.

An international challenge is set to be led by American Pool B winners Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena, the top-seeded pair who enjoyed impressive pool-stage victories over teams from Brazil, Poland and Venezuela.

Knock-out action will begin tomorrow ahead of finals on Sunday (February 28).