Kessy, Ross Advance in Olympic Games Test Event

Becky Murdy
Assistant, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: becky.murdy@usav.org

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 12, 2011) - The U.S. Women’s Beach Volleyball Team of Jen Kessy and April Ross downed compatriots Brittany Hochevar and Lisa Rutledge on Friday in the first round of the FIVB “Road to London” Visa International Test Event in London at the Horse Guards Parade.

Kessy (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) and Ross (Costa Mesa, Calif.) defeated Rutledge (Vista, Calif.) and Hochevar (Fowler, Colo.) in round one, 21-18, 21-16 in 37 minutes. The match advances Kessy/Ross into Saturday’s round two competitions as the lone team representing the United States.

Kessy and Ross will face Mexico’s sixth-seeded team of Bibiana Candelas and Mayra Garcia in Saturday’s second-round match in hopes to advance into Sunday’s semifinal match.

Kessy and Ross, seeded third, capitalized on service receives and placement when Rutledge struggled siding out. Both the first and second sets were close until Kessy and Ross reached 12s, which is when the higher seeds began to pull away. 

Also working diligently at the event are 12 international referees from the International Federation of Volleyball who are all hoping to make the same trip to London as well next year.

Kessy and Ross most recently won their third medal of the 2011 FIVB World Tour July 30, capturing the silver at Poland’s Mazury Orlen Grand Slam. The duo also won the silver medal at the Shanghai Jinson Open and took the bronze at the Brasilia Open in Brazil in the first tournament of the series.

In addition to the athletes competing on Olympic grounds with hopes to make the trip back in 2012, the officials on the court, FIVB international referees, are also hoping to make the trip.

Under the supervision of Jose Casanova, FIVB Beach Volleyball Referee Commissioner and member of the FIVB Beach Volleyball Commission, 31 international candidates from the host country join the 12 international referees in London this week.

The 16 FIVB International referees chosen for the London 2012 Olympics will not be chosen until next year with officials at tournaments like this test event under careful consideration. 

For more information about the FIVB London Olympic Test Event, click here.

Be sure to follow @usa_volleyball on twitter at www.twitter.com/usa_volleyball for live and breaking news from London.

Tags: April Ross, Beach, Beach Volleyball, Brittany Hochevar, Jennifer Kessy, Lisa Rutledge, mobile