COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 16, 2019) – U.S. women’s and men’s 4×4 beach volleyball teams each won gold on Wednesday at the ANOC World Beach Games in Doha, Qatar.
In the women’s gold medal match, the team of Karissa Cook, Geena Urango, Emily Hartong, Kelly Reeves, Katie Spieler and Allie Wheeler beat Brazil 21-16, 21-9.
The U.S. women lost to Brazil 21-13, 21-12 in pool play. The U.S. came back to beat Vanuatu in the quarterfinals and Canada in the semis.
Related: WORLD BEACH GAMES WEB SITE
In the men’s gold medal match, the team of Brian Cook, Taylor Crabb, Troy Field, Maddison McKibbin, Riley McKibbin and Olympian Casey Patterson beat the host country before a packed house, 21-18, 26-24.
The U.S. Men lost to Qatar in pool play, 16-21, 21-10, 15-10. The U.S. came back to beat Mozambique in the quarterfinals and Indonesia in the semis.
“It means a lot. That was a battle. That tournament was tough,” Brian Cook told Panam Sports.
“We’ve never played short-court four-man. We came out trying to play like it was big-court; slow sets, running to the pins. Then we figured out it’s basically indoor volleyball with four people on sand. We put all our indoor players on the court, and it worked out. It was fun.”
The U.S. men started Brian Cook, both Maddison and Riley McKibbin and Crabb. Cook finished with nine kills and six blocks. Crabb had 11 kills and one block Maddison McKibbin finished with five kills and four blocks.
The U.S. women started Karissa Cook, Hartong, Reeves and Urango. Cook scored on five kills and five blocks. Hartong had six kills and four blocks. Urango had eight kills and Reeves had two kills.
Brazil’s team included 2016 Olympic silver medalist Barbara Seixas and 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Juliana Felisberta da Silva.
Qatar’s team included 2016 Olympian Cherif Younousse.