2008 Olympic Gold Medalists

2008 Olympic Gold Medalists
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Friday, May 21, 2010

Todd and Phil at FIVB Tournament in Rome, Italy 17-23 May 2010

3 comments:

Andrew said...
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Tom Jack, the Blog Administrator said...

Dalhausser & Rogers Net Rome Grand Slam Gold Medal Sweep for USA

http://www.fivb.org/viewPressRelease.asp?No=24004&Language=en

Capturing the gold medal at the US$600,000 Foro Italico Beach Volley Grand Slam Sunday were Todd Rogers (left) and Phil Dalhausser of the United States

Rome, Italy, May 23, 2010 - It was an American sweep here Sunday evening at the US$600,000 Foro Italico Beach Volley Grand Slam as reigning Olympic champions Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers joined their compatriots Jen Kessy and April Ross with gold medal victories at the third SWATCH FIVB World Tour event of the 2010 season.

With Kessy and Ross defeating a team from Germany for the women’s title, the top-seeded Dalhausser and Rogers followed with a 23-21 and 21-11 win in 47 minutes over fourth-seeded Alison Cerutti and Emanuel Rego of Brazil on the Parco del Foro Italico centre court.

It was the third meeting between the American and Brazilian men this season with two of the matches for a SWATCH FIVB World Tour titles. Dalhausser and Rogers defeated Alison and Emanuel for the Brasilia gold medal last month 21-16 and 21-12 in 38 minutes. Two weeks ago in China, Alison and Emanuel scored a 21-16, 12-21 and 15-13 bronze medal win in a 50-minute Shanghai match.

“After playing two very tough matches Saturday to reach the semi-finals, it was great to only play two sets in each of our wins today,” said the 36-year old Rogers. “We defeated two very good teams today and we played very well in both matches. It is great to have two gold medals to our credit this season after three events.”

Enroute to splitting the $43,500 first-place prize, Dalhausser and Rogers, opened play Sunday with a 21-14 and 21-17 win in 36 minutes over fifth-seeded Adrian Gavira and Pablo Herrera of Spain. Alison and Emanuel, who split $29,500 for second-place, had to defeat 2009 world champions Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann of Germany (18-21, 21-19 and 21-19 in 84 minutes) to reach the finals.

Sunday’s two wins also propelled Dalhausser and Rogers to the top spot on the SWATCH FIVB World Tour as the Americans have amassed 1,820 points and $84,700 in winnings this year. Alison and Emanuel are second with 1,740 points and $65,500 in earnings. Brink and Reckermann, the 2009 tour champions, are third (1,400 points, $47,000).

Since the start of the FIVB SWATCH FIVB World Tour in 1987, Brazil and the United Sates have now competed against each other 44 times for an international gold medal with the South Americans leading the series 24-20. While Alison and Emanuel are now 0-2 in FIVB finales, Dalhausser and Rogers are 10-3 with a 5-3 gold medal mark against Brazilian pairs.

In the bronze medal match, Gavira and Herrera earned their first SWATCH FIVB World Tour medal in 2010 on the Parco del Foro Italico center court with a 21-17 and 21-17 win in 47 minutes over Brink and Reckermann, the defending Rome champions. In avenging a defeat to the Germans two weeks ago in an elimination match in Shanghai, Gavira and Herrera split the $23,000 third-place prize. Brink and Reckermann shared $18,400 for fourth-place.

The third of 14 men’s” events on the 2010 SWATCH FIVB World Tour calendar, the Foro Italico Beach Volley Grand Slam also featured the women’s medal matches Sunday where Americans Jen Kessy and April Ross defeated Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig of Germany 21-19 and 21-17 in the women’s finale.

The Foro Italico Beach Volley Grand Slam was also the first of six “major” events on the 2010 SWATCH FIVB World Tour calendar. After the Rome stop, the 2010 SWATCH FIVB World Tour calendar continues with single-gender events (May 25-30) in Seoul (women) and Myslowice (men). After a week off, Moscow hosts the second grand slam event on the 2010 SWATCH FIVB World Tour June 7-14 followed by a men’s-only event June 15-20 Prague, Czech Republic.

Drew said...

Way to go! It's really a great thing for the fans that Universal Sports archives the semis and finals. Who is the announcer though!?? He totally cracks me up - seems like he knows just enough about beach volleyball to be dangerous. I love his analysis that a good block 'needs flair', and that's why Phil's a better blocker than Alison. Because Phil as a blocker has 'more flair'. It's very helpful, because when I'm down at the beach I'll know what to focus on when I'm blocking - flair.

I enjoyed hearing your interview after the finals, and getting your take on the year - that you're having lots of fun. Keep having fun and keep rollin'!