COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 17, 2018) – The U.S. women’s beach team of Devon Newberry and Lindsey Sparks placed fourth after falling to Norway’s Frida Berntsen/Emilie Olimstad in the bronze medal match on Wednesday at the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games.
Newberry/Sparks won the first set from Berntsen/Olimstad, 21-18, but lost the next two sets, 21-13, 21-9.
“We were really hoping to medal,” U.S. Head Coach Ali Wood Lamberson said. “They played great volleyball and fell only a few points short. With more international experience under their belt, I’m sure they will be winning medals in the future.”
Newberry/Sparks lost their semifinal match on Tuesday to Italy’s Claudia Scampoli/Nicol Bertozzi, 21-16, 21-19.
The U.S. men’s team competing in Argentina, Tim Brewster/John Schwengel, were happy with their fifth-place finish, considering they finished 25th at the 2018 FIVB U19 World Championships in China.
“I have never played in such a fun and inspiring setting,” Brewster said. “Playing with the Olympic Rings in the stadium blew my mind. This fifth-place finish means the world to me. We worked so hard to improve after China and it paid off. We went out there and we performed like we knew we could.”