Two USA Duos in Contention for Barcelona Open Title

Bill Kauffman September 11, 2009

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Photo: FIVB

April Ross passes an opponent's spike attempt during action on Sept. 11 at the SWATCH/FIVB Beach Tour Barcelona Open

Bill Kauffman Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 11, 2009) – Two U.S. women’s beach pairs remain in contention to win the SWATCH/FIVB Tour Barcelona Open, which crowns its champion on Sept. 13 in Barcelona, Spain.

Jen Kessy (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) and April Ross (Costa Mesa, Calif.), won an All-American showdown against Angie Akers (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and Tyra Turner (Fort Myers Beach, Fla.) in the third round to start Friday’s action. Third-seeded Kessy and Ross won the opener 21-17, then needed to push deep into the second set for a 30-28 victory. Kessy and Ross have won all six meetings versus Akers and Turner this year, including four matches on the FIVB Beach Tour.

In their fourth-round match, Kessy and Ross dropped a 21-17, 21-8 match to second-seeded Talita Antunes and Maria Antonelli of Brazil in 35 minutes. The loss pushed the American duo into the contenders bracket for Saturday, one win away from the semifinals. They will face the winner of Greece’s 13th-seeded Vassiliki Arvaniti and Maria Tsiartsiani and Germany’s fourth-seeded Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig, which will be played earlier on Saturday.

After losing its third-round match, sixth-seeded Akers and Turner needed just 34 minutes to Switzerland’s 18th-seeded Simone Kuhn and Nadine Zumkehr 21-15, 21-15. Akers and Turner advance in the contender’s bracket to face fifth-seeded Ana Paula Connelly and Shelda Bede of Brazil on Saturday morning, followed by a second potential contender’s match against Brazil’s 12th-seeded Maria Clara Salgado and Carol Salgado with the winner advancing to the semifinals.

Half the semifinal field is set, and both teams represent Brazil. Top-seeded Larissa Franca and Juliana Felisberta Silva reached the semifinals along with Talita and Antonelli.

For more information on the Barcelona Open, click here.

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