Kessy, Ross Advance to Finland Final

B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: bj.evans@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 21, 2009) – The USA Volleyball beach team of Jen Kessy and April Ross have advanced to their fifth SWATCH FIVB World Tour gold medal match this season at the PAF Open in Mariehamn, Finland.

Kessy (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) and Ross (Costa Mesa, Calif.), seeded second in the event, will face Brazil’s top-ranked Juliana Felisberta Silva and Larissa Franca in Saturday’s final of the US$380,000 SWATCH FIVB World Tour women’s event. The winning team will share $30,000.

After losing on Thursday, Kessy and Ross had to win twice on Friday to advance to the semifinal.

After posting a 21-17, 21-17 victory in 39 minutes over sixth-seeded American rivals Angie Akers (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and Tyra Turner (Fort Meyers Beach, Fla.), Kessy and Ross gained their 13th SWATCH FIVB World Tour semifinal appearance in 28 international events with a forfeit win over fifth-seeded Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig of Germany.

Kessy and Ross then denied the Brazilians a possible PAF Open podium sweep with a 21-16, 21-18 semifinal win in 42 minutes over third-seeded Talita Antunes and Maria Antonelli.

More information and complete results and photos are available at www.fivb.org/EN/BeachVolleyball/index.asp.

Tags: Angie Akers, April Ross, Beach Volleyball, FIVB World Tour, Jennifer Kessy, Tyra Turner