Berlin, Germany, June 13, 2008 - The two women's Beach Volleyball teams from Brazil and the United States that have competed for the SWATCH FIVB World Tour gold medal the past two times in the German capital will be facing each other again, but this time it will be in the semi-finals of the US$600,000 smart Grand Slam after both tandems won quarter-final matches here Friday. Top-seeded Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh of the United States will play second-seeded Juliana Felisberta Silva and Larissa Franca of Brazil for the 14th time on the SWATCH FIVB World Tour since March 2004. Two of the previous 13 matches were gold-medal affairs in Berlin in 2005 and 2007 with the Americans winning both times as the 2006 event was not held due to the soccer World Cup in Germany. Saturday's second semi-final match pits eighth-seeded Jen Boss and April Ross of the United States against seventh-seeded Jia Tian and Jie Wang of China as the two teams meet for the third-time on the SWATCH FIVB World Tour. The Americans won both matches, including a Norwegian Grand Slam gold medal affair last year in Stavanger when Boss and Ross had to qualify for the Main Draw to became the lowest-seeded team (29th) to win a SWATCH stop. "I am glad we got the two very close wins today," said the 29-year old Walsh after her team's wins over tandems from China and Brazil. "Since this is our first international event this season, I think we had some troubles adjusting to the ball. We did not have a good rhythm to our games today, especially with our passing. Both opponents played very well and we make some big plays at the end of both matches to win." The reigning Olympic and three-time SWATCH FIVB World Champions, May-Treanor and Walsh opened with a 21-16, 15-21 and 15-12 victory in 49 minutes over sixth-seeded Chen Xue and Xi Zhang of China before advancing to their 49th SWATCH FIVB World Tour "final four" in 56 events together since 2001 with a 21-12, 16-21 and 15-11 win in 49 minutes over 26th-seeded Maria Antonelli and Vanilda Leao of Brazil. Juliana and Larissa, who have won three of 13 matches with May-Treanor and Walsh, scored wins Friday by ousting Brazilian rivals and fifth-seeded Talita Antunes and Renata Ribeiro 21-18, 15-21 and 15-9 in 48 minutes and 14th-seeded Stephanie Pohl and Okka Rau of Germany 21-16 and 21-18 in 43 minutes to also reach their 49th SWATCH FIVB World Tour "final four" in 57 events. After eliminating 15th-seeded Helke Claasen and Antje Roder of Germany 21-11 and 21-17 in 35 minutes earlier Friday, Boss and Ross advanced to their third SWATCH FIVB World Tour in 14 events with a 21-13 and 21-17 win in 36 minutes over third-seeded Shelda Bede and Ana Paula Connelly of Brazil. Like May-Treanor and Walsh, Boss and Ross won their pool to avoid playing an extra elimination match. Tian and Wang reached their 22nd SWATCH FIVB World Tour semi-final in 33 events by playing an extra elimination due to placing second in their pool to Antonelli and Leao. The Chinese pair opened play Friday with 21-12, 17-21 and 15-11 win in 49 minutes over 11th-seeded Vasso Karadassiou and Vassiliki Arvaniti of Greece before ousting third-seeded Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs of the United States 25-23 and 21-18 in 47 minutes. The women's smart Grand Slam will feature Saturday morning semi-final matches followed by the podium placement contests in the afternoon as the winning team shares the $43,500 first-place prize. |
