The American duo of Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross is the favorite to win the gold medal in women’s beach volleyball at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.
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Even to the most casual fans of the Olympics, Kerri Walsh Jennings is a household name every four years when the games come around.
Both teams entered the match with one preliminary win under their belt.
With their 2-1 (21-13, 22-24, 15-12) win in 65 minutes over the Swiss pair to secure their three match win of the competition, Ross and Walsh Jennings maintained their third-seeding when the 16-team elimination bracket is played Friday and Saturday. In the first set, Walsh Jennings and Ross appeared on a different level than the Swiss, leaping out to a huge lead. The U.S. women quickly took the second set to top the Chinese women 21-16, 21-9.
Walsh Jennings is going for her fourth straight Olympic gold medal.
The pair now boast two preliminary wins and are guaranteed a spot in the Round of 16. Walsh Jennings leaped in the air, eyes on the ball, and then, blind, somehow ripped a spike down the middle for a victor.
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Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross celebrate winning a point against Isabelle Forrer and Anouk Verge-Depre of Switzerland during the beach volleyball – women’s preliminary – pool C, match 33 on day five of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Beach Volleyball Arena on August 10, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
