OLYMPICS: Figure skating-Germany's Fabienne Hase, Volodin surprise leaders after pairs short program

MILAN — Germany's Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin seized the lead in the pairs short program at the Milano Cortina Olympics, in a session marked by both precise performances and surprising errors.

The German duo capitalized on a rare mistake by Japan's two-time world champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, finishing with 80.01 points and setting themselves up as front-runners heading into Monday's free program.

European champions Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava of Georgia were second with 75.46 points, despite a stumble on the landing of their throw triple flip. Canadians Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud placed third with 74.60 points.

Miura and Kihara, who arrived in Milan as red-hot favorites, dropped to fifth after scoring 73.11 points following an error on their lasso lift, where it appeared one of Kihara's arms gave way, causing Miura to slip down his back. Their coach, Bruno Marcotte, reassured Kihara, telling her, "It's not over," as he stepped off the ice.

(Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Toby Davis/Reuters)