Stavanger, Norway, On a centre court with sand from Denmark on the Fourth of July, Jen Kessy and April Ross of the United States realized a “dream” by capturing the gold medal here Saturday at the 2009 SWATCH FIVB World Championships presented by ConocoPhillips by defeating Brazilians Juliana Felisberta Silva and Larissa Franca. With the US$1-million event featuring 96 men’s and women’s teams from 32 countries and five FIVB confederations, the top-seeded Kessy and Ross scored a 30-28 and 23-21 win in 58 minutes to share the $60,000 first-place prize that is the biggest Beach Volleyball tournament outside of the Olympics. The third-seeded Juliana and Larissa split $45,000. “We have worked very hard to achieve this title, but we also know that you need a little bit of luck to win any event you enter,” said the 27-year old Ross, who was named the SWATCH most outstanding player for the 2009 SWATCH FIVB World Championships. “We beat a very good team today. They compete very hard throughout every match they play. We feel very proud to win this title on day that our country celebrates Independence Day. Our hard work has paid really pay dividends today.” After placing 37th together in their first SWATCH FIVB World Championships nearly two years ago in Gstaad, Switzerland, Kessy and Ross have become the second women’s team from the United States to win the world finals after two-time Olympic champions Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh topped the podium in 2003 (Rio de Janeiro), 2005 (Berlin) and 2007 (Gstaad, Switzerland). Prior to May-Treanor and Walsh, who are sitting out the 2009 international season due to injuries and child birth, respectively, Brazilians had captured the first three world finals. Atlanta 1996 Olympic champions Jackie Silva and Sandra Pires won the 1997 world finals in Los Angeles with Shelda Bede and Adriana Behar capturing back-to-back gold medals in 1999 (Marseille, France) and 2001 (Klagenfurt, Austria). Saturday’s title was also Kessy and Ross’ second gold medal finish on the Vaagen Harbour centre court as the Americans won their first SWATCH FIVB World Tour event in 2007 by capturing the Norwegian Grand Slam after qualifying for the Main Draw as the 29th-seeded team. Kessy and Ross ended the 2008 international season by winning the final two SWATCH stops in Thailand and China. With six-straight gold medal match appearances on the SWATCH FIVB World Tour since last October, Kessy and Ross also won their first international title this season after losing to Juliana and Larissa in the Brazilian championship match in April and to Talita Antunes and Maria Antonelli almost two months ago in Seoul, Korea. Prior to Saturday’s title match, both teams had to win semi-final matches earlier in the day. The Americans defeated fifth-seeded Shelda Bede and Ana Paula Connelly of Brazil 28-26, 15-21 and 15-9 in 68 minutes while Juliana and Larissa scored a 21-17, 18-21 and 15-13 victory in 59 minutes over the second-seeded Talita and Antonelli. Saturday’s win was also Kessy and Ross’ third win in eight meetings with Juliana and Larissa as the two teams were playing against each other for the third-time in a SWATCH FIVB World Tour gold medal match. The Brazilians defeated Kessy and Ross for the gold medal in 2007 at St. Petersburg, Russia. Sunday’s finale was the 76th SWATCH FIVB World Tour women’s final between the two Beach Volleyball powers with the Americans holding a 44-32 edge. Kessy and Ross are now 4-4 in SWATCH gold medal matches with Juliana and Larissa 23-15, including a 5-9 title record against Americans with three wins in 11 finales against May-Treanor and Walsh. In the All-Brazilian bronze medal match, second-seeded Talita Antunes and Maria Antonelli scored a 21-13 and 21-16 in 39 minutes over fifth-seeded Shelda and Ana Paula Connelly to share the $35,000 third-place prize. Shelda and Ana Paula, the 2008 SWATCH FIVB World Tour champions, split $28,000 for fourth-place. |
