USA’s Kerri Walsh Jenning and April Ross topped Brazil’s Larissa and Talita 17-21, 21-17, 15-9 to take bronze in the women’s beach volleyball tournament.
Brazil held an early two-point lead before the U.S. women responded to tie the teams at 4-4. Larissa and Talita held a one-point advantage to lead 11-10 entering the first technical time out. The Brazilian women continued to gain momentum while the U.S. women trailed behind as Larissa and Talita took the first set 21-17.
The U.S. women took the first point of the second set with an impressive dig from April Ross. Agatha and Barbara went on a two-point run before a long attack from Talita gave the U.S. women a point to tie at 2-2. The Brazilian women pulled away again, leading 12-9 entering the first technical timeout of the second set. The U.S. women responded to tie the score at 14-14 before taking a three-point run to lead 17-14. The gap was enough to slow Brazil’s momentum and the U.S. women took the second set 21-17.
Walsh Jennings and Ross put the first point on the board in the third set and held a one-point advantage until Brazil took the lead at 4-3 after an attack from Walsh Jennings missed long off the back court. Walsh Jennings powered ahead at the net to take the the lead at 7-6 and the U.S. women continued their run to pull ahead by two points while the Brazilian women struggled to keep up. Walsh Jennings and Ross, gaining mometum and a seeing a medal within reach, won the match 17-21, 21-17, 15-9.
The victory marked Walsh Jennings’ fourth Olympic medal, making her the oldest female medal winner in beach volleyball history and the fifth beach volleyball player to win medals with two different partners.