The remaining U.S. men’s beach volleyball team of Jacob Gibb and Sean Rosenthal defeated a tough and talented Russia duo of Sergey Prokopiev and Konstantin Semenov 21–14, 22–20 Saturday.
Jacob Gibbs played a nearly perfect game while his partner Sean Rosenthal had some problems but played well enough to get by the Russians. Gibb had 16 kills, four blocks, and only a single service error. Rosenthal had 13 kills and a pair of service errors.
The Russians spent the first set-and-a-half serving the 6‘7“ Gibb, finally realizing that wasn’t working for them and switching to the 6’4” Rosenthal. Gibb had little problem beating 6'11” Konstantin Semenov, going aroung, through, or over the big Russian’s blocks. Rosenthal was less successful, but made enough cut shots to keep the points rolling in.
Once the Russians st6arted serving Rosenthal, they started closing the gap to the U.S. team, tying the second set at 13, 18, and 19. Rosenthal hit a cut past Semenov to bring on the first set point, but Russia scored with a spike.
Russia’s Sergey Prokopiev netted the serve—Russia’s first service error—giving the U.S. the serve with match point. Gibb served Prokopiev who couldn’t beat the block, giving the Americans the win.
Gibb and Rosenthal will face Latvia’s Martins Plavins and Janis Smedins in quarterfinal play on Monday, August 6.
May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings on to Quarterfinals
U.S. women’s beach volleyball stars Misty May-Treanor and Kerry Walsh Jennings defeated the Dutch duo of Marlene van Ierse and Sanne Kizer in two sets, 21–13, 21–12, Saturday.
The Americans were on their game, May-Treanor particularly, while the Dutch were not having the best night.
The Dutch had four service faults in 26 attempts, while the Americans had three in 41—mostly because Walsh Jennings didn’t have her serve working. May-Treanor had 16 kills and Walsh Jennings six; Walsh Jennings contributed six blocks and three digs to go with May-Treanorr’s 11 digs.
Both U.S. women’s beach volleyball teams play quarterfinal matches Sunday, August fifth. Misty May-Treanor and Kerry Walsh Jennings will face the Italian pair of Greta Cicolari and Marta Menagatti. April Ross and Jennifer Kessy will play the Czech Republic’s Krisyna Kolocova and Marketa Slukova.
