Beach volleyball bronze medal for USA's McPeak & Youngs

The "morning disappointment" of defeat turned to "afternoon delight" for Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs as the United States captured the women's bronze medal in at the Smart Grand Slam in Berlin, Germany, on Saturday.

With a 21-13 and 21-16 win in 38 minutes over ninth-seeded Suzanne Lahme and Danja Müsch of Germany, McPeak and Youngs split the $23,000 third-place prize. The Germans finished the event with a share of $18,500 for their best finish on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour this season.

In the gold medal match, top-seeded Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede of Brazil scored a 21-16 and 21-17 win over 12th-seeded Dalixia Fernandez Grasset and Tamara Larrea Peraza of Cuba to split the $43,000 first-place prize. The Cubans, who upset the third-seeded McPeak and Youngs 21-18 and 21-16 in the semi-finals, departed Berlin with $29,500 for the silver medal finish.

"I am still disappointed that we did not play better this morning," said Youngs after the bronze medal match. "That was the first time Holly and I have faced them as a team together. Give them all the credit for the win. We are delighted with our play against the Germans. They are one of the newer teams on the tour and are very competitive."

Playing in their 20th SWATCH-FIVB World Tour event, McPeak and Youngs have posted 12 podium placements, including five gold medals, three silvers and three bronzes. For the 2004 season, McPeak and Youngs won the international stop in China, placed second in Greece and was also third last week in Switzerland.

The second of five-straight mixed gender events on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour, the Smart Grand Slam concludes Sunday with the men's semi-finals and medal match. The international circuit continues the next three weeks with additional mixed gender events in Norway, Mallorca and France.

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