Beach volleyball: May-Treanor, Walsh capture Long Beach title
Associated Press
LONG BEACH, Calif. — The world's No. 1 women's team and reigning gold medalists Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh went undefeated to win the AVP Long Beach Open today in their last tournament before the Olympic Games in Beijing.
The duo continued their record streaks of 101 straight matches and 18 straight tournaments.
"We don't think about them," Walsh said. "Misty and I, we have one job to do, and that's to win every time we step on the court, and we're very focused on that. It sounds impressive, but we're not done yet."
May-Treanor and Walsh beat fourth-seeded Jennifer Boss and April Ross 21-14, 21-18 in the final.
Boss and Ross stayed close early, with the first game tied 10-10 before the champions pulled away.
"I think we just turned it on," said Walsh, who had eight blocks in the match. "We just put up a big block, and if I didn't block it, Misty dug it."
In the second game, Boss and Ross remained with May-Treanor and Walsh throughout, helped largely by Boss' match-leading 19 kills and Ross' pair of aces.
But they couldn't stick with the world's best team.
"It was a great match to get under our belts before the Olympics," May-Treanor said. "They serve very tough in the Olympics, and the way they were serving today, it's going to make the other teams in the Olympics' serves feel easy."
May-Treanor and Walsh planned to take next week off from the AVP Tour and practice at home for Beijing.
Much of the time on the sand will be spent getting used to the different international ball. Apart from that, their game is primed.
"We're prepared. We're ready," Walsh said.