USA teams post 7-3 match mark at FIVB Brazilian Open

Led by the tandems of Misty May/Kerri Walsh and Holly McPeak/Elaine Youngs, the United States posted a 7-3 beach volleyball match mark here Thursday during the opening rounds of the 2004 SWATCH-FIVB World Tour season opener for women on Praia de Iracema in Fortaleza, Brazil.

The top-seeded May/Walsh and the seventh-seeded McPeak/Youngs each won both of their matches Thursday to advance to the third-round of the winner's bracket where they will play teams from Germany and Brazil, respectively.

Fifth-seeded Annett Davis and Jenny Johnson Jordan bounced back from an opening round setback to eliminate the top teams from Cuba and Greece in the competition. Carrie Busch and Nancy Mason, who had to win four qualification matches Tuesday and Wednesday, won only once in three matches Thursday to place 17th and split $3,000 in the $180,000 Brazilian.

May and Walsh, who have now won 30-straight matches on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour since losing in the finals of last July's Norway Open, play ninth-seeded Stephanie Pohl and Okka Rau Friday morning while McPeak and Youngs challenge second-seeded Shelda Bede and Adriana Behar.

After defeating 32nd-seeded Mika Teru Saiki and Satoko Urata of Japan 21-14 and 21-17 in their first match Thursday, May and Walsh stymied 17th-seeded Angela Clarke and Kylie Gerlic of Australia 21-15 and 21-11. McPeak and Youngs posted wins over 26th-seeded Susanne Glesnes and Kathrine Maaseide of Norway (21-17 and 21-14) and 10th-seeded Summer Lochowicz and Kerri Pottharst of Australia (21-19, 19-21 and 15-8).

Both teams were "pleased" with their play in the season opener. "It feels good to be back in competition," said May, who teamed with Walsh to win the last four international events they entered last season. "I'm glad to be through the opening rounds with two victories," noted McPeak. "After a five-month break, we are glad to be back in competition."

With eight teams from Brazil (three tandems) China, Germany, Switzerland and the United States (two) advancing through the winner's bracket to the third round, the fifth-seeded Davis and Johnson Jordan eliminated the tops teams from Cuba and Greece to advance with seven other tandems to the third round of the elimination bracket.

After being upset 21-17, 10-21 and 15-11 by 28th-seeded Larissa Franca and Juliana Felisberta Silva of Brazil, Davis and Johnson Jordan ousted 12th-seeded Dalixia Fernandez Grasset and Tamara Larrea Peraza of Cuba (21-15 and 26-24) and 11th-seeded Vasso Karadassiou and Efi Sfyri of Greece (19-21, 21-19 and 15-13).

After the 46-minute match with the Cubans, Davis and Johnson Jordan had to rally against Karadassiou and Sfyri. After losing the first set to the Greece tandem, Davis and Johnson out-lasted Karadassiou and Sfyri in the second set before falling behind 9-5 in the deciding set of the 60-minute match.

"Our backs were to the wall," said Johnson Jordan. "They had just scored five-straight points and they controlled the match. However, we did not quit and managed to overcome a great play by Sfyri near the end. It's our first event of the year and we are very inconsistent. Hopefully, we play better tomorrow."

For Davis and Johnson Jordan, Friday's first match will not be easy as they face Brazilian legend Jackie Silva with her new partner Luciana Rosario. Like the Americans, Silva and Rosario dropped their first match Thursday before eliminating from Norway and Greece.

After losing 21-18 and 21-17 to 17th-seeded Angela Clarke and Kylie Gerlic of Australia, the 16th-seeded Busch and Mason ousted 32nd-seeded Mika Teru Saiki and Satoko Urata of Japan 21-13 and 21-17 before being eliminated 21-16 and 21-18 by 18th-seeded Milagros Crespo and Imara Esteves Ribalta of Cuba.

The Brazilian Open continues the qualifying process for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. After this week's event, competition on the women's SWATCH-FIVB World Tour resumes May 19-23 in Rhodes, Greece followed by other Olympic qualifying events in China, Japan, Switzerland, Germany, Norway and Canada. The process began last June in Greece and concludes July 11 when the 24 teams are determined for the August 14-24 Olympic Games in Athens.

For more information on FIVB beach volleyball, go to the FIVB web site.