RIO DE JANEIRO – It was the middle of the second set of the beach volleyball bronze medal match at Copacabana Beach on Wednesday night, and Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross looked done.
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That is not to take anything away from the Brazilians, who swept both sets 22-20 and 21-18.
USA beach volleyball star Kerri Walsh Jennings isn’t used to losing at the Olympics.
April Ross and Kerri Walsh Jennings formed their partnership in the moments after the London gold medal match but didn’t begin competing internationally until 2013. Brazil made the tactical decision to attack her early because it often takes Walsh Jennings a little time to get comfortable in a match.
Walsh Jennings spent the day feeling devastated by her first her beach loss in four Olympics. Larissa and Talita held a one-point advantage to lead 11-10 entering the first technical time out. The U.S. women won six FIVB World Tour events in their first full season in 2014. Coming to Rio, Walsh Jennings, 38, and Ross, 34, had lost to Larissa and Talita four times in five FIVB World Tour matches this year – most recently just five weeks ago at the Gstaad Open in Switzerland.
Now, the American pair must fight for the bronze medal, facing off against a different Brazilian team on Wednesday night at 9 p.m.
Agatha and Barbara will now face Germany’s Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst in the final at Rio 2016 following their 21-18 21-12 success over home duo Larissa Franca Maestrini and Talita Rocha. “No disrespect to win the gold medal, it takes everything you have, but you’re going to go home with a medal. Tonight, it was harder than I thought to get up for this match”, Walsh said. A quick ace, a couple creative shots at net, and two consecutive massive blocks by Agatha on Walsh Jennings saw them up 6-2 and the stadium shaking. She could have blamed the other team, like American soccer goalie Hope Solo, who called Sweden “cowards” after they defeated the US last week.
An April Ross spike gets the U.S. duo on the board.
That includes teaching her children that they are capable enough to pursue everything they want in life – even if society tells women they can’t or shouldn’t.
“Once you win a semifinal, the gold medal match is easy”, Walsh Jennings said after the match. “I’m beating myself up for a lot of missed digs, missed opportunities to keep us in the game and put us ahead, to keep us ahead”.
She then causes mayhem with a serve. “After we finish the Olympic Games, we’ll think about this because now we have to think about the next game”.
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Asked what it was like to beat Walsh Jennings, Bednarczuk responded: “It’s insane!” Their deliveries kept Walsh Jennings and Ross slightly off balance all night. The duo fell in the semifinals to Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor and were defeated by China in the bronze medal match.
