Olympic Gold Medallist Win Again
In a repeat of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games
gold medal match, Kerri Pottharst and Natalie Cook of Australia once again defeated Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede of Brazil in
two exciting sets to take the gold medal at the
first event of the World Tour in Macau.
The first set was point for point until the Olympic gold
medallist capitalized on an unforced error by the Brazilians and won the
set. In the second set, Pottharst and Cook took an early lead and eventually ran out winners
2-0 (28:26, 21:13).
Earlier in the day in overcast conditions, Cook/Pottharst had defeated the previously undefeated Elaine Youngs and Barbara Fontana of the United States
2-0 (21:18, 21:19) to advance to the gold medal play-off.
In the longest match of the tournament, lasting almost 2 hours, Misty May and Holly McPeak of the United States lost an epic 3 set semi-final match to Adriana and Shelda
1-3 (21:16, 26:28, 22:20). This match was the best of the competition and was watched by an enthusiastic crowd that filled the grandstands to near capacity.
In the play-off for 3rd play May and McPeak recovered to defeat compritriots Youngs and Fontana
2-1 (26:24, 20:22, 15:10).
Natalie Cook of Australia was voted a best player of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Women's Open for Macau.
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