Rogers, Dalhausser Win Out in Pool Play LONDON (Aug. 2, 2012) – The U.S. men’s beach volleyball team Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers completed pool play at the 2012 Olympic Games on with a 21-13, 21-15 victory in 35 minutes over Petr Benes and Premysl Kubala of Czech Republic at Horse Guards Parade. Benes and Kubala, seeded No. 14, finish third in the pool at 1-2. Dalhausser and Rogers dominated the match, leading in attacks (24-19), blocks (5-1) and aces (3-0). The teams tied 9-9 in digs. Rogers had 13 kills, two aces and seven digs. Dalhausser had 11 kills and all five of his team’s blocks. Jennifer Kessy, left, and April Ross go for the ball. (FIVB photo)
“We were just on. Everything seemed a little bit easier than the last few matches,” Rogers said. “The last two matches just seemed like a struggle. This time we both were serving well; we both were passing, setting and siding out well. He blocked fantastically. When we’re like that we’re pretty tough to beat.” Dalhausser added, “If we can keep playing like we did tonight I think we’ll do pretty well.”
Kessy, Ross Wrap Up Pool Play with Win LONDON (Aug. 2, 2012) – The U.S. women’s beach volleyball team of Jen Kessy and April Ross fought off three match points on Thursday as they completed Olympic pool play with a 21-19, 19-21, 19-17 victory in 1 hour, 7 minutes over Liliana Fernández Steiner and Elsa Baquerizo McMillan of Spain at the Horse Guards Parade venue. No. 16 Fernández and Baquerizo finish Pool D in second place with a record of 2-1.
Todd Rogers dives to try and save the play. (FIVB photo)
After the teams split the first two sets, Fernández and Baquerizo held match point in the third-set tie-breaker at 14-12. Kessy and Ross took timeout. Spain had errors in its next two attack attempts to tie the score at 14-14. A successful kill by Baquerizo gave the Spaniards another match point, but Kessy answered with an attack. Kessy and Ross reached match point at 16-15 and 17-16 with Spain fighting them off each time. At 17-17, Ross scored on two straight attacks for the victory. “We got really lucky on that one I think,” Kessy said. “I think Spain’s going to be bummed that they let that one go.” Kessy and Ross led in kills (40-32) but Spain dominated in aces (8-0). Each team finished with two blocks and Kessy and Ross led in digs (20-16). Kessy and Ross were charged with 15 team errors while Fernández and Baquerizo had 17. “We’ve played in tournaments where we’ve breezed through pool play and it doesn’t do you any favors,” she said. “I think it’s good that we were tested like that today. We’re learning more about our team and we stuck together even more than in the Dutch game.”
April Ross attacks against Spain’s Liliana Fernández Steiner. (FIVB photo)
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