2016-05-30 11:58:00 CEST
Another week, another medal for in-form Americans!
Can anyone stop Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross after yet another tournament victory this weekend? Photo credit: Samo Vidic/Red Bull Content Pool.
Regular readers of our website will have noticed we have written a lot about American pair April Ross and Kerri Walsh Jennings in recent weeks.
And guess what? Today we will again because at the weekend the American duo added to their growing collection of medals with yet another scintillating victory – this time at the Moscow Grand Slam on Sunday.
The all-conquering Americans have been in truly inspirational form so far this year with their latest triumph their fourth gold in six tournaments, which included the Cincinnati Open the week before.
Already in 2016 they have won medals in each tournament they have taken part in! That’s some hot beach volleyball right there, girls.
Their victims this weekend were Brazilians Talita Antunes and Larissa Franca in what was a hugely competitive final. Both sets were extremely tight but it was Ross and Walsh Jennings that got the job done in both, winning 22-20 and 21-17 in 36 minutes on Court One.
The Americans defeated three Brazilian sides on their way to gold following victories over Juliana/Lima in the semifinal and Elize Maia/Duda in the quarters – and with seven straight victories for the second week running, Ross and Walsh Jennings are now top ranked on the 2015/16 Tour with a stunning 40-2 match record that includes 22 straight victories.
“We relish the challenge of playing Larissa and Talita because they are a very, very good team,” Walsh Jennings told the FIVB YouTube channel. “We grew today. We’ve faced so many challenges, so many great teams this week which makes this victory so amazing. It makes us better players, it’s a huge win and we’re so proud.”
Ross added: “The key has been preparation. Everything that happened last year has prepared us mentally and the key has been sticking together. Onwards, inwards, upwards, we’re going for it!”
Meanwhile, in the women’s bronze medal match, there was success for Canadian pair Sarah Pavan and Heather Bansley as they recorded a straight sets victory over Brazil’s Juliana/Lima.