Argyle is not such a great look for them (photo credit: Petr David Josek/AP)
What an amazing day of beach volleyball!
Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser played hands-down the match of the tournament (if not year), there were two successive Brazil-Brazil matches in the women's knockout stage, and it was a big day all around for the American men, but I have to start with the American women.
The teams of Jennifer Kessy and April Ross and Nicole Branagh and Kerri Walsh Jennings both won their pools with 3-0 records to qualify directly for today's second round of the knockout stage. While Kerri and Nicole looked challenged a few times, perhaps from the newness of their partnership, Jen and April looked like they very much deserved the #1 seed they received. Their day started off with the Spanish team of Liliana Fernández Steiner and Elsa Baquerizo McMillan. Liliana goes a bit Brazilian, so the team is known as Liliana/Baquerizo.
I didn't get to see all of this match. It was pretty even early on in the first set — nobody took a 2 point lead for as long as I was watching. Kessy and Ross looked to be executing well, with the veteran of the team Kessy (not that Ross is a spring chicken) loudly directing traffic as she always does. The Spanish team actually took the first set 21-17, however, fighting back from that early stalemate.
From there, the Americans took control. They jumped out to an early lead in set 2 and maintained it at 3-4 points most of the way. That's the thing about beach volleyball — find an opening, get through it, and then you can just sideout your way to victory. A bit of dodgy ball handling from the Spanish girls ended set 2 at 21-16 in favor of Kessy/Ross.
Set 3 was even less competitive, with the Americans jumping out to the early lead at 3-1, then 4-1, 5-1 after some sterling defense led to an empty backcourt for a Ross SMASH, then 6-1. It was mostly sideout after sideout from there, with Kessy and Ross taking the third set 15-7.
So, it was a good day for the top-seeded duo, right? Wrong. They were bounced in round 3 by the German duo Holtwick/Semmler by a score of (21-18, 18-21, 15-12). Holtwick and Semmler had also won their pool and gotten a first-round bye, but they did it with a 2-1 record that included a loss to a team that didn't even make it to the knockout stage, so this has to be classed as a pretty big upset. Sure wish I had had a chance to see this match.
The other duo of American ladies was of course Walsh Jennings and Branagh. They faced the Czech tandem of Kristyna Kolocova and Marketa Slukova, a duo whose only loss in pool play came to the Brazilian team that had run the table (and more on them later).
The match started very evenly, with the two sides matching kills and also hitting errors. The Czechs had an easy one on 1-1, with a wide open backcourt, but they still missed everything. Branagh, who got most of the Czech team's serves, flubbed a similar shot on the very next point. She missed several more shots later in the set and showed her emotions as Walsh Jennings tried to get the match back on track. The Czechs took the first 2 point lead at 12-10, but did not pull away any further. Amid a set that was in large measure sideout after sideout, the Americans took the lead again at 18-17. It was 19-18 when the Czech team then took two in a row to get the first set point at 20-19. Their return off Branagh's first hit went long and out, but it was ruled to be off the block, so they took the first set 21-19.
Things did not improve for Kerri and Nicole in set 2. Kolocova and Slukova stormed out to a jaw-dropping 6-1 lead early on. This match may have revealed the weakness in the Walsh Jennings/Branagh partnership; I don't think Branagh is used to getting the majority of opponents' serves. Her hitting was very much hit-or-miss, and her serve reception was just plain bad. She was aced a few times, and some of her passes to Walsh Jennings made it very difficult to set an offense. I think Walsh Jennings and Branagh are probably the better two players, but Kolocova and Slukova certainly showed themselves to be the better team. The Americans closed to within a single point a few times, staving off the first match point at 20-18, but the Czechs closed it out on serve receive afterward, taking another 21-19 set and sending the Olympic champion packing.
It's hard to say what's next for Kerri. We'll see who she brings to Thailand with her.
Other day three notes:
Rogers and Dalhausser in an epic
This was the match of the tournament, no question about it. Yesterday I made note of the fact that Rogers and Dalhausser would enter their match with the Kazakhs Alexey Sidorenko and Alexandr Dyachenko with everything on the line. Both teams went 2-0 in the first day of men's pool play, and while the Americans had to go to a third set in one of their matches, the Kazakhs were extended to 25-23 in one of theirs.
I figured the 2008 Olympic champions were the heavy favorites.
I may have been off the mark.
I wasn't able to see the first set, but the 25-23 score in favor of the Kazakh team belies that it was intensely competitive. I joined the match late in the second set to see Rogers and Dalhausser's usual formula of Rogers' solid hitting and Dalhausser's intense front-line blocking to go ahead. The Americans got to set point when Rogers made a terrific diving dig and Dalhausser sent it over on two through the Kazakh block to go up 20-17. Dyachenko and Sidorenko nearly made it back to level, even staving off one set point through Dalhausser's block, but they made the curious choice to actually serve Dalhausser on 20-19. And, sure enough, he proved why teams don't usually do that, putting one away to take the second set 21-19.
Then came the third set, and I'm still not entirely sure what happened.
Rogers and Dalhausser took the early lead to 5-2, leading Dyachenko and Sidorenko to take timeout. The Kazakhs then ran off three straight to knot it at 5. With a few on Dalhausser's serve and with Rogers' fine all-around play, the Americans next went up 10-7. Dalhausser used some risky-looking overhand sets, but he was never called for a double. The Kazakhs made another run and closed to within 12-11, at which point the Americans called timeout. They came back to get the first match point at 14-12. The Kazakhs staved it off on serve receive, and then an amazing back-and-forth point on 14-13 tied the match up. Rally went back and forth, diving digs on both sides, with the Kazakhs finally putting it away after the Americans could only return a free ball. This was a classic match, that could turn anyone into a fan of this sport.
And it was at this point that the insanity started.
The Kazakh serve on 14-14 wasn't returned. The line/out call initially went against Rogers and Dalhausser, to ostensibly give the Kazakhs their first match point. But…it didn't end that way. Rogers and Dalhausser protested the point, and the call was overturned. They were given the point instead. That's the nice thing about beach volleyball — you can just look down into the sand and see where it landed.
But even that wasn't the end of it. Both teams vacated the court, and it was empty for a good ten minutes. I really had no idea what the delay was — were the officials going to a video review? I'm not aware that that happens in volleyball, and even so there's no reason it should have taken that long. Neither team left courtside, and after what seemed like forever, they warmed up again to play the Americans' match point at 15-14. It was quickly over; a Kazakh hitting error gave the match to Rogers and Dalhausser. A bizarre ending to a very noteworthy match.
This match took an hour and fifteen minutes. For perspective, many other matches took only about half an hour. The way they had the courts scheduled, matches started on the hour, so they would expect a match to be over and the next teams to have sufficient time to warm up all within one hour. This match didn't end until 15 minutes after the next one was supposed to be underway.
Remember the names Dyachenko and Sidorenko. I get the feeling we'll be hearing from them again.
Fuerbringer/Lucena vs. Ricardo/Vitor
This match may have proven that there was no flexible scheduling to be had, because this one was important and since it was the first of the day, absolutely no one was there to see it. Both of these teams went 2-0 in their pool yesterday, making this one winner-take-all to see who would get the knockout stage first-round bye.
The first set was really even. The Brazilian pair took the advantage at 6-3, but the Americans made a run back to tie it at 8. 8-all was probably the point of the match, with the Brazilians scoring on a soft touch at the end of a very long rally. The Americans took one on serve to go up 11-10, and then another to go up 14-12. Otherwise, it was sideout after sideout. The Brazilians then knotted it up at 14, before some superior hitting got them their next lead at 18-16. But again the Americans came back to tie; neither team was able to pull away. A Brazilian block got them to set point at 20-18. Both teams were taking chances with overhand sets, and the Brazilian duo was called for a ball handling error to take it to 20-19. No matter; switching to bump pass and set on the next point, they took the first set 21-19.
Fuerbringer and Lucena were undaunted, jumping to a quick 3-0 advantage in set 2. Ricardo and Vitor ran it back to 5-5, but then the Americans pulled off a run to go up 9-6. The Brazilian team clearly expected Fuerbringer to be called for a double on an overhand set on 10-7, but there was no call made. Their indignation seemed to take them out of the point, and Lucena had an easy kill. That was quite likely the turning point of the match. The American run on serve extended to 13-7 and only a service error ended it. It was mostly even from there, with great defense from the American side setting up an easy kill on set point at 21-15.
The Brazilian duo switched to bump sets just about exclusively in set 3, but it wouldn't really have mattered. The Americans were dominant, jumping out to an early lead and making a long run on serve to 11-4. Sideout after sideout from there, but the damage was done, giving Fuerbringer and Lucena a 15-7 win in the third.
Pļaviņš/Šmēdiņš vs. Kantor/Losiak
Home court advantage just wasn't quite enough for the local boys going up against the Olympic bronze medalists from Latvia. For a while, it looked like it might be. They played the Latvians very tight in set 1. They never took more than a one point lead at any time in the set, but the Latvians only went up by three after taking set point at 21-18. All the "Pol-ska!" chants in the world couldn't save them in the second set, though. The Latvians showed pretty clear athletic superiority, storming to an early lead that only grew as the match went on. First it was 5-2, then 7-3, 12-7, 18-10, and finally match point at 21-13. Honestly, this is how the first set should have gone.
Fijalek/Prudel vs. Huber/Seidl
Just a few quick notes on this match, since it was largely one-sided. This was a much better showcase for the home crowd on center court — Fijalek and Prudel seemed to feed off the "Pol-ska!" chants, but they also seemed like easily the better team, cruising to a 21-16 win in the first as they seemed to take two points when the Austrians took one. The Austrians were more competitive in set 2, but still could not take down the home boys, falling 22-20.
Agatha/Seixas vs. Talita/Maria
With Larissa and Juliana easily dispatching their Belgian foes, this match was to set up another Brazil/Brazil match in the quarterfinals. Agatha and Seixas were the team that had won their pool and gotten to round 2 directly, while Talita and Maria had won only one match in pool play, but in a vacuum the latter team would figure to be the favorites.
The first set was competitive at the beginning. Talita and Maria went out fast, but Agatha and Seixas fought back to within 10-9. Talita and Maria slowly asserted control from that point, going up 15-12, then 17-13, 19-14, and winning the set 21-15.
Agatha and Seixas took control in set 2, taking the first noticeable lead at 6-3, which extended to 8-3 before Talita and Maria were finally able to side out. It was a very streaky set from then on. A run on Talita's serve took it to 9-7, Agatha took it right back to 12-7 on her serve, and then then Maria ran it back to 12-11. Agatha and Seixas took the next 2 point lead at 16-14, when Maria hit the ball into the net for an error and Talita spiked the ball in frustration. They drew back even at 17, but did not score again, as Agatha and Seixas finished it off at 21-17 with a joust at the top of the net.
The third set began with sideout after sideout. Talita and Maria took the first point on serve to go up 5-4, and then another shortly thereafter to go up 7-5. Agatha and Seixas drew even at 7 with one of the best points of the match. ending a long rally with a soft shot to the backcourt, but Talita and Maria quickly drew out to a 2 point lead, and then a 3 point lead. They had their first match point and put it away at 15-11.
After playing to their talent in the first two matches in the knockout stage, after they most certainly did not in pool play, Talita and Maria finally ran out of gas against Larissa and Juliana, losing (19-21, 21-18, 15-11). Larissa and Juliana are probably the better team anyway, and taking them to a near hour-long three-setter is nothing to be ashamed of.
Kuhn/Zumkehr vs. Cicolari/Menegatti
I expected this to be one of the better matches of the tournament. Boy was I wrong. The Italian duo, perhaps still smarting from their shocking day one upset to the #31 seeds Banck and Walkenhorst (who bowed out today) on day one. It was a classic beach volleyball set with one team markedly better than the other, as the Italians went up 6-2, 9-4, 11-5, 13-7. From then it was mostly sideout after sideout, but the damage was long since done, with Cicolari and Menegatti winning it 21-14.
The second set was not much more competitive. Italy took an early 7-3 advantage. Kuhn and Zumekhr closed to 12-11, but never took the lead. It was largely even from this point on, with the Italians winning one on serve to put it away 21-18.
Full Day Three results
Women
Knockout stage round 2:
#1 Kessy/Ross (USA) d. #19 Liliana/Baquerizo (ESP) (17-21, 21-16, 15-7)
#6 Holtwick/Semmler (GER) d. #13 Vozakova/Vasina (RUS) (21-13, 21-16)
#4 Talita/Maria (BRA) d. #23 Agatha/Seixas (BRA) (21-15, 17-21, 15-11)
#3 Larissa/Juliana (BRA) d. #18 Mouha/Gielen (BEL) (21-15, 21-15)
#24 Ukolova/Khomyakova (RUS) d. #20 Borger/Büthe (GER) (21-11, 21-19)
#7 Kolocova/Slukova (CZE) d. #12 Walsh Jennings/Branagh (USA) (21-19, 21-19)
#2 Cicolari/Menegatti (ITA) d. #8 Kuhn/Zumekhr (SUI) (21-14, 21-18)
#16 Maria Clara/Lili (BRA) d. #31 Banck/Walkenhorst (GER) (21-19, 21-18)
Quarterfinals:
Holtwick/Semmler d. Kessy/Ross (21-18, 18-21, 15-12)
Larissa/Juliana d. Talita/Maria (19-21, 21-18, 15-11)
Ukolova/Khomyakova d. Kolocova/Slukova (21-19, 14-21, 15-11)
Cicolari/Menegatti d. Maria Clara/Lili (21-19, 21-13)
Semifinals (tomorrow):
Holtwick/Semmler vs. Larissa/Juliana
Ukolova/Khomyakova vs. Cicolari/Menegatti
Men
Final day of pool play (winners advance to round 2 of knockout stage tomorrow, 4th place teams are eliminated)
Pool J:
#1 Alison/Emanuel (BRA) d. #16 Heuscher/Weingart (SUI) (26-24, 21-18)
#17 Walkenhorst/Matysik (GER) d. #32 Zharykau/Kavalenka (BLR) (22-20, 21-14)
Final pool standings:
1. Alison/Emanuel 3-0
2. Walkenhorst/Matysik 2-1
3. Heuscher/Weingart 1-2
4. Zharykau/Kavalenka 0-3
Pool K:
#2 Gibb/Rosenthal (USA) d. #15 Fuchs/Koreng (GER) (21-14, 21-15)
#18 Ingrosso/Ingrosso (ITA) d. #31 Popov/Samoday (UKR) (21-18, 19-21, 15-9)
Final pool standings:
1. Gibb/Rosenthal 3-0
2. Fuchs/Koreng 1-2
3. Popov/Samoday 1-2
4. Ingrosso/Ingrosso 1-2
Pool L:
#30 Tomatis/Casadei (ITA) d. #3 Pedro/Marcio (BRA) via forfeit (I'm guessing one of them was injured)
#14 Thiago/Bruno (BRA) d. #19 Skarlund/Spinnangr (NOR) (28-26, 21-10)
Final pool standings:
1. Thiago/Bruno 3-0
2. Skarlund/Spinnangr 2-1
3. Tomatis/Casadei 1-2
4. Pedro/Marcio 0-3
Pool M:
#4 Rogers/Dalhausser (USA) d. #13 Sidorenko/Dyachenko (KAZ) (23-25, 21-19, 16-14)
#20 Barsouk/Bogatov (RUS) d. #29 Gerson/Gabathuler (SUI) (21-17, 20-22, 15-12)
Final pool standings:
1. Rogers/Dalhausser 3-0
2. Sidorenko/Dyachenko 2-1
3. Barsouk/Bogatov 1-2
4. Gerson/Gabathuler 0-3
Pool N:
#28 Müllner/Wutzl (AUT) d. #5 Samoilovs/Sorokins (LAT) (21-17, 22-20)
#12 Pļaviņš/Šmēdiņš (LAT) vs. #21 Kantor/Losiak (POL) (21-18, 21-13)
Final pool standings:
1. Pļaviņš/Šmēdiņš 2-1
2. Losiak/Kantor 2-1
3. Müllner/Wutzl 2-1
4. Samoilovs/Sorokins 0-3
Pool O:
#6 Fuerbringer/Lucena (USA) d. #11 Ricardo/Vitor (BRA) (19-21, 21-15, 15-7)
#22 Semenov/Prokopiev (RUS) d. #27 Brinkborg/Gunnarsson (SWE) (21-19, 21-15)
Final pool standings:
1. Fuerbringer/Lucena 3-0
2. Ricardo/Vitor 2-1
3. Semenov/Prokopiev 1-2
4. Brinkborg/Gunnarsson 0-3
Pool P:
#10 Kadziola/Szalankiewicz (POL) d. #7 Dollinger/Windscheif (GER) (21-17, 22-20)
#23 Horrem/Eithun (NOR) d. #26 Mesa/Lario (ESP) (24-22, 21-11)
Final pool standings:
1. Kadziola/Szalankiewicz 3-0
2. Horrum/Eithun 2-1
3. Mesa/Lario 1-2
4. Dollinger/Windscheif 0-3
Pool Q:
#9 Fijalek/Prudel (POL) d. #24 Huber/Seidl (AUT) (21-16, 22-20)
#25 Doppler/Horst (AUT) d. #8 Kubala/Benes (CZE) (21-23, 21-18, 15-12)
Final pool standings:
1. Fijalek/Prudel 3-0
2. Doppler/Horst 2-1
3. Huber/Seidl 1-2
4. Kubala/Benes 0-3
Knockout stage round 1
Ricardo/Vitor d. Popov/Samoday (21-16, 16-21, 19-17)
Walkenhorst/Matysik d. Mesa/Lario (21-12, 21-13)
Semenov/Prokopiev d. Fuchs/Koreng (17-21, 21-11, 15-11)
Skarlund/Spinnangr d. Huber/Seidl (21-14, 21-15) to delay Skarlund's retirement
Sidorenko/Dyachenko d. Heuscher/Weingart (21-18, 21-17) Pleased they avoided a letdown.
Doppler/Horst d. Müllner/Wutzl (21-14, 21-15)
Losiak/Kantor d. Barsouk/Bogatov (21-15, 21-17)
Horrem/Eithun d. Tomatis/Casadei (21-19, 21-16)
Second round matchups (tomorrow):
Alison/Emanuel vs. Ricardo/Vitor
Walkenhorst/Matysik vs. Pļaviņš/Šmēdiņš
Fijalek/Prudel vs. Semenov/Prokopiev
Skarlund/Spinnangr vs. Rogers/Dalhausser
Thiago/Bruno vs. Sidorenko/Dyachenko (!!!!!)
Doppler/Horst vs. Kadziola/Szalankiewicz
Fuerbringer/Lucena vs. Losiak/Kantor
Horrem/Eithun vs. Gibb/Rosenthal
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