By B.J. Hoeptner Evans

Walsh and May-Treanor Win Third Olympic Gold in Women's Beach Volleyball

The U.S. women's beach volleyball team of Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor completed the trifecta, earning their third gold medal in as many Olympic Games with a 2-0 (21-16, 21-16) victory over American teammates April Ross (Costa Mesa, Calif.) and Jennifer Kessy (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) in 36 minutes Wednesday evening at the Horse Guards Parade.

May-Treanor (Santa Monica, Calif.) and Walsh (San Jose, Calif.), who won gold medals in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008 and seeded third in London, finish the tournament at 7-0 (21-0 in Olympic matches going back to Athens and 42-1 in Olympic sets). Kessy and Ross (No. 4) finish their first Olympic Games with a silver medal and a 6-1 record.

"A big reason Misty and I are gold medalists is because of those two girls," Walsh said of Kessy and Ross. "They are one of my favorite teams to beat because they are so good. It's an honor to share the podium with them. They drive me crazy on the court."

"I still feel like somebody pinch me that this just happened," said May-Treanor, who has said she plans to retire after the Olympic Games. "We've been walking around the stadium saying it feels like an out-of-body experience.

"This was about the experience, the friendship, the journey and volleyball was just a small part of it."

With May-Treanor and Walsh's victory, the United States continues its streak of having at least one gold medalist in beach volleyball since its introduction in 1996. The United States has earned at least one volleyball medal, either indoor or beach, in every Olympics since 1984.

May-Treanor and Walsh become the first women to win three Olympic medals in beach volleyball and the first players of either gender to win three beach volleyball gold medals

On Wednesday, May-Treanor and Walsh led in attacks (27-22), blocks (17-9) and digs (17-9). The two teams tied in aces (2-2).

May-Treanor led in attacks with 16. Kessy had 14 for her team. Walsh had three blocks while Kessy had two. May-Treanor finished with 15 digs.

"We expected a battle and it wasn't the battle we thought it was going to be," Ross said.

"They made us make great shots to go down; mediocre shots were not going to go down," Kessy said. "They played really well. It was just a bummer to lose the last time we are ever going to play against them."

The last time the U.S. had two teams in the Olympic beach finals was at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta where Karch Kiraly and Kent Steffes advanced as did the U.S. team of Mike Dodd and Mike Whitmarsh. Kiraly and Steffes went on to win the gold.

The only time the U.S. has won more than one medal in an Olympic women's beach volleyball tournament was in 2004 in Athens when May-Treanor and Walsh took the gold and the U.S. team of Elaine Youngs and Holly McPeak won the bronze.

The last time two women's teams from the same country squared off for the gold medal was in 1996, when Sandra Pires and Jackie Silva of Brazil defeated their countrywomen Mônica Rodrigues and Adriana Samuel.

 

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings won their third straight gold medal in Olympic beach volleyball on Wednesday. The pair defeated fellow Americans Jennifer Kessy and April Ross 21-16, 21-16. (Aug. 8)

 

Originally published by USA Volleyball (http://www.teamusa.org)

 

 

Walsh and May-Treanor Win Third Olympic Gold in Women's Beach Volleyball