Prediction: The US Will Win Gold in Women’s Beach Volleyball

OK, I have that one secured after April Ross and Jen Kessy defeated Larissa Franca and Juliana Felisberta Silva (BRA) in a incredible three-set match: 15-21, 21-19, and 15-12 ending a nine-game losing streak to Brazil.(They had defeated Franca and Silva in the 2009 World Championships, previously.)

Ross and Kessy, who have played together since 2007, will face two-time gold medal winners Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh in the finals. (Ross and Kessy did beat Treanor and Walsh at an AVP tournament in 2008.) For Ross and Kessy, the #4 seed in the Olympic tournament, this is their first Olympic Games.

(Image of Ross and Kessy is copyright of NBCOlympics.com)

-jee

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Advance to Gold Medal Match

Beach volleyball’s dominant pair - Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh- continued on in the Olympic tournament defeating their counterparts from China, Xue Chen and Zhang Xi, in two straight sets, 22-20 and 22-20.

Since 2004 May-Treanor and Walsh have won every Olympic match in which they have competed. Even more astounding, they’ve lost only one set in three Olympics.

They now await the results of the second semi-final match featuring Brazil and the other U.S. entry, April Ross and Jen Kessy. (The match will be live at 3:00 EDT/2:00 CDT.)

(Image of May-Treanor and Walsh celebrating a point from earlier in the Games is copyright REUTERS/Marcelo Del Pozo and courtesy of sports.yahoo.com)

-jee

Katrin Holtwick of Germany shows off some interesting Kineso tape art.

Photo: Marcelo Del Pozo/Reuters

New York’s Metro asks, “What if every Olympic sport was photographed like beach volleyball?”