Dalhausser, Rogers Reach Shanghai Semifinals

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

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 6, 2010) – The U.S. men’s beach volleyball team of Phil Dalhausser (Ormond Beach, Fla.) and Todd Rogers (Santa Barbara, Calif.) lost their first set since April 23, but still advanced to the semifinals of the Shanghai Open, part of the SWATCH FIVB World Tour.

In the women’s bracket, all three U.S. teams remain unbeaten and have advanced to the third round.

Dalhausser and Rogers, top seeds in the Shanghai men’s bracket, opened play on Thursday with a third-round, three-set comeback victory over Switzerland’s eighth-seeded Jefferson Bellaguarda and Martin Laciga, 2-1 (12-21, 22-20, 15-9) in 53 minutes.

In the fourth round, they had an easier time against Germany’s fourth-ranked Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann, beating them, 21-18, 21-12 in 47 minutes.

They will get Friday off while their semifinal opponents for Saturday are determined. The men’s finals will also be played Saturday. Dalhausser and Rogers told the FIVB they plan to spend their day off by attending the World Expo, which is being hosted by Shanghai.

“We are playing very well right now and I don’t think the Germans are playing as well as they did last year,” Rogers told the FIVB. “In our first match against the Swiss, they served us off the court during the first set but we were able to settle down and pull it out. Overall we are encouraged by our play in our first time in Shanghai.

“Now we will enjoy our day off after traveling to China on Monday right after finishing a domestic tour event in the U.S. last Sunday and playing in FIVB event in Brazil the week before.”

Brazil’s third-seeded Emanuel Rego and Alison Cerutti, whom Dalhausser and Rogers beat to win the gold medal at the Brasilia Open in April, have advanced to the other men’s semifinal.

The other three U.S. men’s teams – Jake Gibb (Bountiful, Utah)/Sean Rosenthal (Redondo Beach, Calif.), Casey Jennings (Las Vegas, Nev.)/Brad Keenan (Westminster, Calif.) and Matt Fuerbringer (Costa Mesa, Calif.)/Nick Lucena (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) – all will finish the tournament tied for ninth after losing in the fourth round of consolation on Thursday.

The third-seeded U.S. women’s team of Jen Kessy (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) and April Ross (Costa Mesa, Calif.) took a first-round victory over Netherland’s 30th-seeded Madelein Meppelink and Marloes Wesselink, 21-15, 21-15 in 38 minutes. In the second round, they defeated Switzerland’s 14th-seeded Simone Kuhn and Nadine Zumkehr, 21-14, 21-19 in 38 minutes.

But in Friday’s third round they will have to play their U.S. teammates, Nicole Branagh (Orinda, Calif.) and Misty May-Treanor (Costa Mesa, Calif.) who are seeded sixth.

Branagh and May-Treanor advanced with a first-round victory over Great Britain’s 27th-ranked Zara Dampney and Shauna Mullin (21-17, 21-18 in 39 minutes) and a second-round win against 11th-seeded Vassiliki Arvaniti and Maria Tsiartsiani of Greece (21-17, 21-17 in 39 minutes).

Fourth-ranked Angie Akers (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and Tyra Turner (Fort Myers Beach, Fla.) defeated Norway’s 29th-seeded Janne Kongshavn and Ingrid Torlen in the first round, 21-15, 21-18 in 39 minutes. They had to come from behind to defeat Mexico’s 20th-ranked Bibiana Candelas and Mayra Garcia in the second round, 16-21, 21-19, 15-13 in 48 minutes.

They are schedule to play Austria’s 12th-seeded Barbara Hansel and Sara Montagnolli in Friday’s third round.

For more information about the FIVB World Tour event in Brazil, visit the SWATCH FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour web site.

Tags: Beach, Beach Volleyball, U.S. Beach Team