(26 July 1996; Day 7)
After all the sniping, talking through the net and the political affiliation jockeying among the elite men's players in beach volleyball it all came down to just that -- volleyball.
USA team Karch KIRALY and Sinjin SMITH had a pre-Olympic spat about the qualifying procedures as this young sport struggles to govern itself. However, when KIRALY and his partner Kent STEFFES collided in the winner's bracket with SMITH and his partner, Carl HENKEN, the civil war between the Federation of Professional Volleyball and the Association of Volleyball Professionals took its proper place in the great scheme of things -- way behind the game itself.
In Friday's match on Center Court at Atlanta Beach, it was decided that maybe there is room for both of these great pairs on the beach.
"This match was like a made-for-TV movie," said STEFFES. "It is the kind of match that makes me want to play beach volleyball forever."
The match started slowly with neither team able to sustain any momentum, which is the key to beach volleyball success. KIRALY/STEFFES held a slim 8-7 lead when suddenly SMITH/HENKEL reeled off 5 straight points to go up 12-8. Seemingly in control of the match, SMITH/HENKEL seemed to have zipped up the win. But KIRALY, veteran of the beach volleyball scene and two-time Olympic gold medalist indoors, got two straight blocks to spark a 5- point run of his own.
"Against a team like them, you never have them. If you have a team down, you usually feel like you can cruise," said SMITH. "There is no cruising here though."
The road to the gold was by no means smooth. SMITH/HENKEL scored 2 points to get to match point. They squandered 4 match point opportunities and then allowed KIRALY to score on a block to tie at 15 and then STEFFES ripped an ace which HENKEN shanked to go up 16-15. Then it took KIRALY/STEFFES four match point opportunities to put the match away. The match winner came on a ball dug out by KIRALYI and slammed home by STEFFES.
"With all the barbs flying and the talking through the net, I knew it would be the best match we've played in a long time," said KIRALY.
This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Nancy Smith.
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| The volunteer staff of the 1996 Olympic Games totaled 50,152. They worked an estimated 850,000 shifts. |