Roseto degli Abruzzi, May 15, 2008 - Led by 2007 SWATCH FIVB World champions Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, seven of the eight top-seeded teams won as expected here Thursday during the opening rounds of the $US175,000 Italian Open presented by Abruzzo on the Palabeach at the Lungomare Trento.
Only 2006 SWATCH FIVB World champions Marcio Araujo and Fabio Magalhaes were defeated by a lower-seeded team during the first of four days of SWATCH FIVB World Tour competition. The third annual Italian Open presented by Abruzzo concludes Sunday when the final two teams compete for the $28,000 first-place prize.
With 2003 SWATCH FIVB World champions Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos of Brazil also winning Thursday after denying a first-round upset by 31st-seeded Jackson Henriquez and Igor Hernandez of Venezuela, the top-seeded Dalhausser and Rogers scored a pair of wins over teams from Italy and Switzerland to advance to a Friday meeting with eighth-seeded Dmitri Barsouk and Igor Kolodinsky of Russia.
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