Volleyball

American beach volleyball stars Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh defeated the No. 2-seeded Chinese team—comprised of Xue Chen and Zhang Xi—to advance to the finals of the 2012 Summer Olympics tournament.

The famous duo will face country mates April Ross and Jennifer Kessy in an all-American gold-medal match and they will claim victory over them to cement their status as the best team in history.

While Kessy and Ross beat a better opponent in the No. 1-seeded Brazilians, Juliana Felisberta and Larissa Franca, they have less experience and it will eventually be their downfall in such a huge match.

May-Treanor and Walsh have won two straight Olympic gold medals and hadn’t dropped a set in three Olympics until last week. They haven’t lost another since and look primed to win that third gold in dominant fashion.

Kessy and Ross just began playing together in 2007, three years after May-Treanor and Walsh won their first gold medal. They haven’t accomplished much on the international scene besides a 2009 World Championship victory in Stavanger, Norway.

It’s also going to be an emotional match for May-Treanor and Walsh, as they have accepted the fact that this will be their final hurrah as teammates. According to the Associated Press (via Sports Illustrated), Walsh wants to insure they go out on top:

"'We want to seal the deal that we're the best team that's ever happened. I want to win tomorrow for us. ... This will be our last match together, so we want to go out on top.'"

They certainly will be, as they are the better team; the best one in history, to be exact. 

On Wednesday, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh will play for their third consecutive Olympic gold medals. The dominant duo will face fellow Americans Jennifer Kessy and April Ross—assuring a gold and silver medal for the United States.

May-Treanor and Walsh defeated the younger, taller, higher-ranked Chinese team in straight sets 22-20, 22-20. Shortly after, Kessy and Ross upset the No. 1-ranked Brazilians in comeback fashion 15-21, 21-19, 15-12—displaying their terrific perseverance.  

While Kessy and Ross won't go down easy—just go as the Brazilians—expect May-Treanor and Walsh to achieve their three-peat and put an emphatic stamp on their tremendous Olympic careers—and here's why.

Superior Defense

After watching nearly every match of women's beach volleyball in these Olympics, it's easy to see that May-Treanor and Walsh are the best defensive team—and if my assessment isn't enough for you, just take a look at the numbers.

As a duo, May-Treanor and Walsh lead all teams in blocks with 22 and digs with 134 out of 265 attempted. Individually, Walsh is the tournament leader in blocks with 21, while May-Treanor has been digging everything that comes her way and has tallied a tournament-leading 92 digs thus far.   

While May-Treanor's hustle and excellent read-and-react skills have saved a lot of points for the duo, Walsh's blocks have shifted the momentum in their favor on numerous occasions—most recently against China. Time and time again, it was Walsh roofing one of the Chinese attacks at the net and forcing them to shoot the ball rather than spike it down.  

If she's not blocking attacks that result in points, she's limiting her opponent's offense to roll shots—which May-Treanor can almost always get to and pass effectively. Therefore, their outstanding defense is what sets up their efficient offense.    

At 6'3'' and 33 years old, Walsh is still, hands-down, the best blocker in the world and has shown why so far in London.  

Quick-Offense Ability

During yesterday's match, NBC's sideline reporter asked the duo's coach what he would tell them if he could talk to them. The coach responded with something along the lines of, "I would tell them to run the quick offense more."  

What he means is not only a literally quicker attack, but he also means swinging after just one pass. When such a dominant hitter as Walsh is on your team, the other player is bound to get more hitting opportunities—teams simply don't serve Walsh. Therefore, you need to find ways to get kills.  

One weapon May-Treanor and Walsh often use is what's called hitting on two. On an easy serve sent May-Treanor's way, she will pass it to the net as if she's setting her partner—allowing Walsh to get in-system kills.  

While May-Treanor will receive most of the attacks simply because she will be served more than Walsh, don't be surprised when you see Walsh spiking balls down on their second hit. 

Olympic Experience

Obviously, the reigning two-time Olympic gold medalists have been here before. And that experience will help them in another gold on Wednesday. May-Treanor and Walsh are 20-0 in Olympic matches since the 2004 Athens Games and possess more gold medals—two—than they do lost sets—one.  

You can analyze the matchup all you want, but that number speaks for itself—20-0, undefeated. They both know exactly what it takes to win at the Olympics and simply don't lose. Even after they lost their first set ever to Austria, they came back in the next set and absolutely dominated, winning 21-8.

Whether it's poking a ball over on two or perfectly playing an opponent's swing, May-Treanor and Walsh have all the tricks—expect to see some later tonight. 

Whichever team wins tonight, one thing is for sure—U.S. is ending the night with a gold and silver in women's beach volleyball.    

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh have never lost a match in Olympic women’s beach volleyball action together.

In 2012, with one match standing in between them and their third gold medal, that hot streak isn’t halting. They’re too talented, too experienced and too close to allow their unblemished record to lose its flawlessness.

April Ross and Jen Kessy, who’ll face off against May-Treanor and Walsh in the gold medal match on Wednesday, are elite volleyball players in their own right. But in women’s beach volleyball, May-Treanor and Walsh are at the top of the food chain and everyone else is prey.

While it’s safe to say that they fully expected to be in the position that they’re in, you can’t say the same for Ross and Kessy.

The Associated Press reported that Ross talked about her and Kessy’s journey to the Olympic final. She said (via Washington Post)

"I’ve got to let this sink in for a half-hour [...]. I can’t believe we’re in this position. We’ve worked so hard for it. You have no guarantee this is going to happen. ... We expect to win it."

I can’t believe we’re in this position.

Ross and Kessy may expect to win, but that right there tells the story of why Ross and Kessy won’t win.

Women’s beach volleyball doesn’t boast the prestige as Olympic sports like track and field, swimming and gymnastics. And that’s the only thing keeping May-Treanor and Walsh from being widely known as two of the most dominant Olympians ever. Not only are they undefeated, but they’ve never sniffed defeat.

Ross and Kessy have lost three sets in London alone.

Like Ross said, she’s in awe of the stage that she and her partner are currently on.

I highly doubt May-Treanor and Walsh are as mystified—again, this is Round 3 for them. Everyone and their mother knew they would be competing for gold.

This match truly is David vs. Goliath, except this time, Goliath is going to spike the rock into the sand.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Follow @TheRealDDaniels

We know the American women will win a gold medal in beach volleyball…but which team will it be?

For the first time in Olympic history, it's an All-American final this afternoon in London when fourth-seeded Jen Kessy and April Ross meet defending gold medal winners Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.

Treanor and Walsh are the heavy favorites to land their third consecutive gold medal against the lesser known “second team.”

This is when everything changes.

Ross and Kessy’s 21-15, 19-21, 12-15 victory over top-ranked Brazil was incredible as they showed the sort of perseverance and will that’s required from a champion. The Brazilians were almost flawless in the beginning, and the American duo refused to give in. They kept chipping away and eventually captured the momentum and the match.

Now they’ll be facing the champs and the pressure is going to be magnified yet again. As long as they don’t let the moment alter their play, the underdogs have a real shot at gold.

Kessy is a 6’0’’ setter from San Juan, Calif. who has insane precision right around the net. Ross is a 6’1’’ Costa Mesa, Calif. native who takes advantage of the great net play of Kessy by producing some outstanding spikes. She has won FIVB’s “Best Hitter” and “Best Server” award in 2011 as one of the fastest rising players in the sport.

You may be thinking “Big deal, they don’t have the talent to beat the incredible duo of May-Treanor and Walsh.”

Guess again.

The two teams have only squared off against each other once before, and the Kessy/Ross combination won in a 2008 AVP tournament.

Kessy and Ross have been training for this moment for four years. They have only dropped three sets in London thus far. It shows you just how locked in they are in the moment. Their opponents weren’t sure if they should make one last run until late in the training process. They have not looked like the dominant duo that has rolled through the last two Olympics.

Their fantastic teamwork and communication has gotten them this far, but now they’ll be playing the only team to ever beat the Brazilian squad in set losses at the Olympics. Kessy and Ross are red-hot and oozing with momentum as they enter the biggest moment of their lives.

It’s a win-win scenario for the Americans to have guaranteed themselves both the gold and silver medal, but that doesn’t mean this match isn’t going to be must-see T.V.

Expect a thrilling three-set match that ends with a brand new champion in women’s beach volleyball. 

No. 4 Jen Kessy and April Ross will be facing off against No. 3 in the world in Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh in the gold medal match for women's beach volleyball. Either could walk away with the gold, but what is certain is that in a sport where each country is only allowed two teams, the U.S. women will sweep the gold and silver.

It wasn't supposed to happen this way.

Before the London Games began, there were questions surrounding May-Treanor and Walsh. Both were aging, both had taken time off from the sport and many were wondering if they had enough to make beach volleyball history and win a third consecutive gold.

Ranked eighth on the FIVB Tour, May-Treanor and Walsh opted not to play in a large number of events in 2012. They spent more time dedicated to preparing for another gold medal run, something that is now looking more possible than ever.

They have not been the team they were entering Beijing when they were on an incredible winning streak and the clear gold medal favorites. In fact, coming into London, they weren't favorites at all. As the third seed there, was a chance they could make it into the gold medal final, but the level of difficulty at the tournament was stacked and most did not expect the two-time defending gold medalists to do it again.

One of the teams standing in their way was the undisputed favorite and world No. 1 in Brazil's Larissa and Julianna, who, as it turned out, were dispatched by perhaps the biggest surprise of the women's tournament, Kessy and Ross.

Making their Olympic debut, Kessy and Ross, who are actually ahead of May and Walsh in the FIVB World standings, showed solid and consistent performances throughout the Games. They have even been one of the best offensive teams as both Kessy and Ross possess power serves and the ability to execute kills down the line.

Against the top Brazilian duo, Kessy and Ross had a slow start, and it looked like Larissa and Julianna were going to sail through without dropping a set.

Unfortunately for the Brazilians, the American pair headed into a new gear when they were down in the second set. They went on a run and started to rifle on points, frustrating the Brazilians and ultimatlely shattering their chemistry.

Kessy and Ross, on the other hand, had no problems with chemistry and they used their powerful offensive attacking to best and upset Larissa and Julianna, ensuring themselves of at least a silver medal.

Both of the American teams have a strong partnership and both work well together. May-Treanor and Walsh have the advantage of being together longer and they have a lot of experience at this stage but Kessy and Ross shouldn't be counted out. They have proven throughout these Olympic Games that they can contend for a medal, and they will have a shot to do so for gold in tomorrow's finals.

It will be an interesting matchup as the two teams really do have opposite styles. Kessy and Ross are more of an offensive team relying on service aces and powerful shots that are hard to defend.

May-Treanor and Walsh, on the other hand, even though they are an all-around team, excel particularly on defense. This is due in partly to Walsh's height and uncanny ability to block at the net, but May is also good on defense and is considered one of the best diggers in the game.

What it could come down to is that experience, those two gold medals that May-Treanor and Walsh have. Kessy and Ross have the ability to stay with the best in terms of scoring, as they showed against the Brazilians, but they can't match the experience and the familiarity that their American teammates have.

Another interesting dynamic that could come into play is the time the match is played. I wouldn't say that May-Treanor and Walsh aren't favored in the daytime, but due to Kessy's recent issues with her feet getting frozen in the cold sand, it could be a factor in the outcome. Kessy and Ross could stand a better chance at dethroning the Olympic champions if the match is during the day, but even then it will be a tough task.

It is likely this match will go one of two ways.

If it is a blowout, two-set victory, May-Treanor and Walsh will be the three-time defending Olympic champions, finishing their illustrious career with an unbeaten Olympic record and by dropping only one set.

If the match goes three sets and if Kessy and Ross can hang in with the defending champions, they will have a great shot at winning the gold medal and at doing what they came to London to do.

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings will be contending for their third-straight Olympic title after defeating the Chinese in their semifinal match last night.

"We just defeated the best team in the world for the past year. These Chinese women are great athletes," said Walsh Jennings minutes after her and Teanor’s semifinal victory (via NBC). "We know we have this in us, we've just got to go execute."

It was not an easy victory for Treanor and Walsh. They narrowly beat the Chinese, who won bronze in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, in two 20-22 sets.

At one point in their first set, the Americans trailed 13-8 to the Chinese but managed to overcome the uphill battle to emerge victorious in their first set.

The second set was much closer—neither side was able to pull more than two points away from the other.

Walsh and Treanor lost the slim lead they had (16-17) and was prompted to take a timeout. Reluctant to let the game slip into a sudden death set, the Americans left their hearts on the sand as their determination and skill proved too much for the Chinese.

Walsh’s spike is a masterful combination of pinpointed accuracy and relentless power. With a partner like Treanor setting her up to a tee, the American sniper can pull the trigger at all parts of the field.

As strong as the Americans look in this event, Treanor and Walsh have shown that they are not unbeatable.

The American duo lost one set in this tournament—against the Austrian Schwaiger sisters during their final group match (via NBC). Treanor and Walsh regrouped after the wake-up call of a loss and defeated the Austrians.

Their matches against the Austrians and Chinese have shown that this American duo is virtually unaffected by what would otherwise be overwhelming pressure. The two Americans never lose sight of their imminent victory and never soften from their rock-hard composition.

Currently, on the other side of the Volleyball bracket, fellow American duo Jen Kessy and April Ross are battling rivals Juliana Felisberta Silva and Larissa Franca of Brazil in a rainy semifinal for the chance to contend for the gold against Treanor and Walsh.

If Ross and Kessy, the number two American team behind Treanor and Walsh, can defeat Brazil, America will be guaranteed a gold medal in Women’s Volleyball.

Treanor and Walsh are already guaranteed a medal in the 2012 Olympic game—but the only color they are interested in is gold. Treanor and Walsh will seek a “three-peat” performance of their two previous Olympic gold medals, as they wait and see who they will play in the final.

If Treanor and Walsh are as composed and synchronized as they have been thus far, the impeccable duo will be a lock for the gold. 

Americans Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh-Jennings are technically the underdogs in Tuesday’s beach volleyball matchup against their Chinese opponents, Xue Chen and Zhang Xi.

However, history and recent performances are on the side of the U.S. women. They should have no problem knocking out the No. 2 seed as the No. 3 in this tournament and reaching the gold-medal game.

May-Treanor and Walsh-Jennings hold a 9-5 all-time lead in competitions against their Chinese opponents. They know how to beat them, especially in Olympic competition. Remember, the American duo never dropped a set in Athens or Beijing and finally had the streak snapped last Wednesday.

That streak's end likely just made them hungrier to be more dominant, as May-Treanor/Walsh-Jennings tore through their Italian opponents on Sunday night in straight sets.

While Xue/Zhang destroyed the famous Americans in Moscow earlier this year (21-14, 21-14), they have coasted through their side of the bracket and never faced a challenge even close to what a revitalized May-Treanor/Walsh-Jennings are preparing to bring.

It’s likely the end of the line for Xue/Zhang, who won bronze in their home country back in 2008. They have plenty of time left to compete at a high level, while this is likely the last rodeo for the United States superstars.

A win would potentially set up an all-American gold-medal game in women’s beach volleyball.

Jen Kessy and April Ross will be matching up against the Brazilian powerhouse duo of Larissa Franca and Juliana Felisberta in a No. 4 vs. No. 1 contest later in the evening.

It would be an epic battle that would make the Americans at home extremely proud. Watching May-Treanor and Walsh-Jennings win one final gold would be the icing on the cake.

Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor will cruise to their third straight Olympic gold medal in London. China's Xue Chen and Xi Zhang will give them problems in Tuesday's semifinal, but it won't be enough to slow this dynamic duo down.

In case you didn't already know this, May-Treanor and Walsh are pretty good. They didn't lose a single set en route to a gold medal in Athens in 2004, and they did the same in 2008 at the Beijing games.

We aren't talking matches. We are talking sets. I'm not a professional beach volleyball player, but that's not an easy thing to do. Playing with the same maniacal focus night in and night out isn't easy in any sport, but these two have their routine down pat.

Things haven't been as easy in London, but they've still been pretty easy. They entered London on a 30-set win streak, but did lose a set to Australia in their preliminary contest. If this was anyone else it would be a possible reason for concern, but I think we can cut these two some slack.

For one, Walsh has been dealing with pink eye. That's not fun for anyone to deal with, and that especially goes for world-class athletes in the midst of their biggest moment. Walsh could have let this really impact their game, but she "toughed" it out and managed to maintain her elite play.

On top of that is their age. Walsh is 34 years old and May-Treanor is one year older than that. In normal everyday life that's not a big deal, but age plays a massive role in sports. It impacts endurance, athleticism and long-term potential.

Some teams in the Olympic field are 10 years younger than the American duo. Who would you take in a tightly contested third set? I'd still take Walsh and May-Treanor, but it certainly evens the playing field.

The health problems and age concerns cast some doubt on their ability to win gold before London's games began, but they've already shown their talent is the same. They've overcome any issues, or hurdles standing in their way so far, and they aren't going to slow down for anyone.

It's easy to anticipate a gold medal for the younger, healthier version of this pair, but this year's gold medal will be their biggest statement to date.