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Olympic Beach Volleyball Recaps - 24 July (Day 5)

Women's Preliminaries

Brackets Set up Brazil vs. Brazil: The luck of the draw has resulted in the Brazilian pairs matching up Thursday. Top-seeded Jackie SILVA and Sandra PIRES (BRA) fended off an upset bid by Liane FENWICK and Anita SPRING (AUS) before winning 15-13. The other Brazilian pair of Monica SAMUEL and Adriana RODRIGUES delegated Barbra FONTANA and Linda HANLEY (USA) to the loser's bracket with a 15-10 win. Natalie COOK and Kerri Ann POTTHARST bounced the other U.S. pair of Gail CASTRO and Debra RICHARDSON 15-7. In that match, CASTRO/RICHARDSON found themselves down 10-1, but managed to score six more points and then staved off match point four times before succumbing 15-7.

"They (FONTANA/HANLEY (USA)) played well, but we served great. Tactically we were perfect. They had no choice but to lose," said Monica SAMUEL (BRA).


Men's Beach Volleyball Preliminaries

Top Seeds Make Their Debut:

On the second day of beach volleyball, the top 10 seeded pairs made their presence known quickly. After watching from the sidelines yesterday, the top two Brazilian teams, as well as all three pairs from the U.S., acclimated themselves almost immediately. The top-seeded pair of Franco NETO and Roberto LOPES (BRA), beat Michal PALINEK and Marek PAKOSTA (CZE) 15-5. Their countrymen, ZE MARCO and Emanuel REGO, dismantled the out-gunned French Jean-Phillippe JODARD and Christian PENIGUAD, 15-1. No. 8 seed John CHILD and Mark HEESE (CAN) were surprised 15-1 by No. 9 seed Sixto JIMENEZ and Javier BOSMA (ESP). Karch KIRALY and Kent STEFFES (USA) bounced Andrea GHIURGHI and Nicola GRIGOLO (ITA), 15-7. The Italians stayed close, drawing to 10-7 before KIRALYI/STEFFES threw it in overdrive and reeled off the last 5 points. KIRALYI is vying for his third Olympic gold medal in volleyball after winning two gold medals with the U.S. indoor team and will face Francisco ALVAREZ and Juan ROSELL (CUB). Sinjin SMITH and Carl HENKEL (USA) advanced with a 15-7 win over Luis MAIA/Joao BRENHA (POR).

See story.

"I don't think we should have too much trouble in the loser's bracket. We are still in the hunt for gold," said Lee ZAHNER (AUS).

"There is no getting tired in the Olympics, if you can't get fired up here, you don't have a pulse," said Mike DODD (USA).


Women's Beach Volleyball Preliminaries

Favorites Advance in Session 1:

The top-seeded women's beach volleyball pair, Jackie SILVA and Sandra PIRES (BRA) needed only 25 minutes to dispatch Etta KAIZE and Ni Putu Timy YUDHANI RAHAYYU (INA) 15-2. The Brazilian pair blasted out of the starting blocks with a 14-0 lead before Indonesiacould respond. After the first 10 women's matches, all the favorites have advanced, including No. 2-seeded Holly MCPEAK and Nancy RENO (USA), who beat Brigitte LESAGE and Anabelle PRAWERMAN (FRA) 15-4. Fourth seeded Adriana SAMUEL RAMOS and Monica RODRIGUS (BRA) had a scare when No. 12 ranked Consuelo TURETTA and Anna Maria SOLAZZI (ITA) had match point three times before letting the favored Brazilians off the hook. Both Australian pairs advancing to the third round as Liane FENWICK/Anita SPRING and Natalie COOK /Kerri Ann POTTHARST won their openers. Germany's Beate BUHLER/Danja MUSCH advanced as did American pairs Linda HANLEY/Barbra FONTANA and Debra RICHARDSON and Gail CASTRO.

"It was so exciting, I did not anticipate what a difference with an American crowd, " said Nancy RENO (USA). "We are used to foreign crowds like Brazil who are vehemently against us. The energy here is wonderful. As the games go on, there won't be any lopsided matches. By mid tomorrow all the matches will be competitive. We elevate our play as the tournament goes on."


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


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