USA's McPeak/Youngs capture beach gold in France

On Saturday, July 20, 2002, fifth-seeded Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs avenged one of their two setbacks this season by defeating Misty May and Kerri Walsh in an All-American finale to capture the women's gold medal in the $400,000 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour event on the Cote d'Azur in Marseille, France.

McPeak (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) and Youngs (Durango, Colo.) scored a 21-17 and 21-12 win in 39 minutes to share the $30,000 first-place prize. In winning their second FIVB gold medal this season and sixth overall title, McPeak and Youngs improved their season record to 44-2 with their last defeat being to May and Walsh last week in a FIVB semifinal in Montreal, Canada (18-21, 21-14 and 15-12). May and Walsh split $20,000 for the silver medal finish.

Despite the defeat, May (Costa Mesa, Calif.) and Walsh (Saratoga, Calif.) continue to lead the 2002 FIVB rankings with three gold medals (Spain, Switzerland and Canada), $96,800 in earnings and 1,470 points. The United States has won all five FIVB this season. McPeak and Youngs, who rank second in international earnings ($71,115) and fourth in points (1,120), missed the 2002 FIVB season opener in Spain.

Third-seeded Natalie Cook and Kerri Pottharst of Australia captured the bronze medal by defeating top-seeded Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede of Brazil 21-13 and 22-20 in 44 minutes. Cook and Pottharst shared $15,900 for third-place while Behar and Bede split $12,100. It was the 24th meeting between the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games beach volleyball finalists with the Brazilians leading 14-7. Since winning the Sydney gold medal, Cook and Pottharst have won three of the seven meetings.

Behar and Bede, who have won record 26 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour team titles, have now gone without a FIVB gold medal in their last five events. After winning their first championship in their eighth FIVB start in September 1996 at Carolina, Puerto Rico, Behar and Bede are in the midst of their longest non-title streak. Their last gold medal finish being in the 2001 season finale in Brazil where they defeated McPeak and Walsh for the title.

McPeak and Youngs earned the first USA spot in Saturday's finale by defeating top-seeded Behar and Bede 19-21, 27-25 and 18-16 in 86 minutes. The first semifinal match was the longest of the international season as the FIVB sanctions its first Grand Slam event of the 2002 campaign. May and Walsh, who have a 31-4 match mark this season, defeated Cook and Pottharst 21-19 and 21-13 in the 40-minute second semifinal match.

The semifinal win earned May and Walsh a tie in the series with Cook and Pottharst at 2-2. The Aussies defeated May and Walsh earlier this season in Norway along with last season on the Cote d'Azur. May and Walsh also defeated Cook and Pottharst in the semifinals last August in Japan. McPeak and Youngs are now 2-0 against Behar and Bede as the Americans had defeated the Brazilians in the Norway semifinals earlier this month

Saturday's gold medal match also marks the eighth time in FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour women's play that two teams from the United States have advanced to a Gold Medal match. McPeak and Youngs played against each other the last time there was an All-American finale, as Youngs and Liz Masakayan defeated McPeak and May in Dalian, China (August 13, 2000).

With five-straight gold medal finishes this season, women's teams from the United States have compiled their best title streak on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour since winning four-straight event crowns in 2000 (July 4-29 in Chicago, Germany, France and Portugal). The American women won eight-straight international gold medals in 1995 (July 16-November 19). McPeak and Nancy Reno won six of the titles (July 16-October 8) with the tandems of Karolyn Kirby/Reno (November 12) and Barbra Fontana/Linda Hanley (November 19) the other two gold medals during the run.

With the Americans playing for the sixth Marseille women's title, the United States has now won 36 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour gold medal in 87 international events since August 1992. Saturday's title was also the 62nd for McPeak, who ranks second all-time behind Kirby's 67. Young, a 1996 indoor Olympic for the United States, has won now 20 pro beach titles.

McPeak and Youngs won a FIVB gold medal this season in Norway (July 6) when they defeated Cook and Pottharst for the title. Cook and Pottharst handed McPeak and Youngs their first defeat this season in Switzerland (June 21). The Americans have won their last two matches against Cook and Pottharst with a bronze medal victory last Saturday in Montreal.

Competing in their eighth pro beach event, McPeak and Youngs have now compiled $132,015 in shared earnings. Among McPeak and Youngs' six titles this season are four championships on the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Tour. The Americans are unbeaten in 20 matches domestically with $60,900 in shared earnings.

Youngs has now won the past two Marseille gold medals. She captured the 2001 crown Barbra Fontana as the Americans downed Behar and Bede in the gold medal match. With Saturday's semifinal defeat, Behar and Bede missed their first Marseille final after competing in the previous five women's gold medal matches with titles in 1997 and 1999. McPeak claimed a bronze medal last season on the Cote d'Azur with Lisa Arce as the Americans defeated Cook and Pottharst for third-place. The United States has now won the past three Marseille titles as Annett Davis and Jenny Johnson Jordan captured the 2000 event.

A pair of Sydney 2000 Olympians for the United States, May and Walsh have now earned $96,000 in earnings in five FIVB events this season. Overall, May and Walsh have posted a 71-19 match mark in two seasons with a combined earnings of $208,550 (with a guaranteed $20,000 for the Marseille finish). On the FIVB Tour, May and Walsh are competing in their 13th event with a 65-17 match mark and $199,800 in combined earnings.

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