If Kerri Walsh Jennings winds up with a fourth medal in Olympic beach volleyball, it will be bronze – not gold, like the other three she has earned in what had been an unblemished record at the Summer Games. Ross-Walsh Jennings trimmed the lead to three at 19-16 and 20-17, but the Brazilians knocked down the final point in a 21-17 victory.
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The pairs traded points to a five-all tie to open the third frame, but it was Brazil that would inch ahead each time until Walsh Jennings turned away three Brazilian attacks before finishing a rally with her kill for a 7-6 United States of America lead.
“We could squash that team, and I say that with all the respect in the world”, Walsh Jennings said. “Let’s do what we came here for #PlayfulDomination”.
With the 21-18, 21-12 victory, Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst clinched Germany’s first-ever Olympic medal in women’s beach volleyball.
“I think she’s the best player that we have for beach volleyball for all (time)”, Talita said.
But with her ideal Olympic record – Walsh Jennings and May-Treanor only lost one set while sweeping to three gold medals – the loss on Tuesday night left the three-time champion in a funk. Brazil has clinched 13 medals – only two gold, with a chance to add two more in Rio. Ross went back and served an ace to give US a 19-15 lead, but Brazil scored consecutive points, the second on its sixth ace of the match, to get within two at 19-17.
“One team is going home empty-handed, and the other is going home with an Olympic medal”, she said.
Agatha and Barbara are the defending world champions, but they were the second-seeded team in the tournament to fellow Brazilians Talita and Larissa, a pair of three-time Olympians, who lost to Germany earlier Tuesday.
Brazil’s loss still leaves the home country with two beach volleyball medals on home sand.
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“It’s a huge deal”, said Ross, who won the silver medal in London. Alison and Bruno were in the men’s gold medal match on Thursday.
