Walsh Jennings and partner April Ross were defeated by Brazilian duo Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas in two sets in the women’s beach volleyball semifinal in Rio.
Advertisement
The second set produced more confusion, no more so than at 11-8 when both Ross and Walsh Jennings tried to dig the same ball.
Watch the women’s beach volleyball bronze medal match at 9:00 p.m. ET. The Brazilians had no answer, and after another Walsh Jennings block, it was match point for the Americans.
It will be interesting to see how Kerri Walsh-Jennings responds in the bronze medal match.
April Ross made her Olympic debut at the London Games alongside Jen Kessy. “And one team is going home with an Olympic medal”. But you’re going to go home with a medal. You do not wish to see legends go out on a downer.
Brazil’s Larissa Franca, left, and teammate Talita Rocha are introduced before facing the United States in the women’s beach volleyball bronze medal match of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. After a serve into the net and another unforced error, Brazil jumped up by two points and did not look back.
Walsh Jennings, 38, has not said if she will return in four years for Tokyo 2020.
They rolled through the competition in Rio until Tuesday night, when the pair lost to the Brazilian duo of Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas. They had to go out and make their families and their country proud. “Bra-Sil!” and rolled out into the Copacabana bars, Walsh Jennings made sure to congratulate and thank all the officials and volunteers on her way out of the arena, as always. The pressure it took to win it. “We came here to be our best, and I was subpar”. I’ve been served aggressively this whole tournament, when people serve at me, and so has April (Ross). Larissa took bronze at the 2012 Games.
A loud and largely pro-Brazilian crowd packed the stands for the midnight match, in a showdown that everyone in the beach volleyball world had been waiting for. For every spike by Ross or Walsh Jennings, the Brazilians were there, keeping the ball aloft. They won the set, 21-17, and it would all come down to the third.
Many Twitter users commented about the upset.
Embracing body work. For the first time in her career, Walsh Jennings incorporated massage into her regular routine. They just played below their usual standard.
That didn’t sit well with Walsh Jennings, who put the blame on herself for the night’s outcome, ripping her poor passing.
“It’s awesome what 24 hours can do, what we are capable of doing, what the human spirit, the American spirit, is capable of doing”, Walsh Jennings told reporters.
“That was the changing point of the match”, said Ross. “We never got our mojo after that and that is why”. “But they outplayed us in every way”.
“It was new life winning that second set”, added Walsh Jennings. “We wanted to win the game and it’s disappointing and heartbreaking not to do it tonight”.
The third set was a true battle.
“Whatever I’m doing I want to be great”, she said.
Ross, 34, took over in the second set as her partner faltered.
They were successful from the start.
Advertisement
If it was any consolation, Walsh Jennings can say her streak ended in one of the most handsome spots on earth. A year ago she and Talita Antunes won the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour. She had to ensure that she and Ross would qualify for Rio.
