Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson hit an Italian wall today on Center Court.

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Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson, two of the more loved American beach athletes on the FIVB World Tour, hit an Italian wall today on Center Court. Ninth-seeded wildcard team Lupo and Nicolai brought their A game during the 11AM match and upset the top-seeded Jake and Casey 2-0 (21-16, 21-18) in 35-minutes during both teams’ first match in Pool A. The Italians have now won three of the last five meetings with Gibb and Patterson.

Photocredit: Andreas Langreiter

Despite the loss, this US pair remains optimistic and focused. “This tournament even more than any other on the FIVB World Tour is filled with the highest level of beach volleyball. „Losing is a part of the sport,” Casey Patterson said directly following the quick loss. “We will go back. Watch video, get a lift in and prepare for our next match. We have learned quickly to forget about losses, recover and refocus for the next match.”

Jake & Casey were not the only US team to take a loss today. The American wildcard team of Emily Day and Jen Kessy lost a tough 3-set match to Canadians Bansley & Pavan.

Pool play resumes tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. on Center Court with Talita and Larissa of Brazil taking on Madelein and Marleen of the Netherlands.