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Olympic Beach Volleyball Recaps - 25 July (Day 6)

Men's Beach Volleyball Preliminaries

Rain Doesn't Stop Beach Volleyball

The sky opened up just prior to the session break, but the matches went on in both men's brackets despite the rain. The winners' bracket race became interesting as Javier BOSMA and Sixto JIMENEZ (ESP) upset top-seeded Roberto LOPES and Franco NETO (BRA) 15-9. Sinjin SMITH and Carl HENKEL (USA) outlasted Francisco ALVAREZ and Juan ROSELL (CUB) 15-13 in a match. Cuba protested the outcome to no avail. That sets up a match between SMITH/HENKEL and Karch KIRALY and Kent STEFFES (USA).

In the loser's bracket, Eduardo MARTINEZ and Martin CONDE were eliminated 15-5 by Portugal's Luis MAIA and Joao BRENHA, a lowly No. 18 seed. Norway's Jan KVALHEIM and Bjorn MAASEIDE eliminated Nicola GRIGOLO and Andrea GHIURGHI (ITA) 15-11. Julien PROSSER and Lee ZAHNER, known as the Thunder Down Under, outlasted Jean-Phillippe JODARD and Christian PENIGAUD (FRA) 15-13 in a hard-fought battle to survive the loser's bracket. John CHILD and Mark HEESE (CAN) booted Michal PALINEK and Marek PAKOSTA (CZE) 5-9. Jan KVALHEIM and Bjorn MAASIEDE (NOR) had to battle LOPES/NETO to stay alive, winning 15-10.

BRENHA/MAIA bounced the last of the Brazilians with a 15-12 win over Jose Marco FERREIRA and Emanuel REGO (BRA), although it took 7 match point opportunities. AHMANN/HAGER, the tallest pair in the competition, were felled 15-7 by HEESE/CHILD.

"I think the rain actually worked to our advantage. We were serving Jean-Phillipe and they had trouble setting close to the net because of the wet ball," said Lee ZAHNER (AUS). "We played poorly. I was a bit shaky with elimination hanging over our heads. It hit me about halfway through. We played cautiously. I wasn't playing up to my capacity. I finally let myself go and play my natural game at about 10-10."


Women's Beach Volleyball Preliminaries

Elimination Bracket Play Continues

Sachiko FUJITA and Yukiko TAKAHASHI (JPN) eliminated Beate BUHLER and Danja MUSCH (GER) 15-4. Linda HANLEY and Barbra FONTANA (USA) rolled over Anita SPRING and Liane FENWICK (AUS) 15-6. In that match, the American duo outscored the Australians 11-2 down the stretch. This sets up HANLEY/FONTANA with Holly MCPEAK and Nancy RENO (USA).

"It is unfortunate that the USA teams have to meet in an elimination round. It will be the team who plays best that will win. I expect both of us to come out strong and both of them to come out strong," said Barbra FONTANA.

"We match up really well with them (RENO/MCPEAK). Unfortunately at this point, they are just another team that we have to go through to get what we came here for. We all are here for the same thing -- a medal," said Linda HANLEY.


This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department.


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Olympic Factoid
The Mother Nature was kind to Olympic athletes and spectators. The average high temperature during the Games was 89 degrees with an average low of 72 degrees. Highest temperature registered (20 July) - 99 degrees. Lowest high temperature registered is 79 degrees (28 July).