Defeating the best and the #1 team in the world doesn’t happen all the time!
Brooke Hanson & Lauren Fendrick from the USA caused major major beach volleyball headlines at the Shanghai Open after defeating the #1 seeded Larissa and Juliana of Brazil in an epic match (21-14, 23-25, 20-18) which almost took an hour to finish (56 minutes to be exact).
We could only guess that L & J were having a rough day and had to concede defeat against the #16 seeded American pair.
Handrick (Hanson + Fendrick) advances to Round 3 and will face #9 seeded Y. Huang-Yue Y. of China while L & J are making their first trip to the Loser’s Bracket after 3 tournaments and will face Hansel-Montagnolli from Austria. The loser of this match will finish 17th.
For more info, click THIS.
In case you didn’t know, Kerri Walsh and Misty May have skipped this tournament due to Misty’s injury. They are expected to return in a couple of weeks at the Poland Open.
Men’s tourney…
3 American teams are still fighting for a spot in the semis led by Phod (Phil Dalhausser + Todd Rogers), Fuel (Fuerbringer + Lucena) & Gibb-Rosenthal .
For more info, click THIS.
The tourney concludes this weekend and the winner of each division wins $30,000 plus FIVB points needed to make their Olympic dream come true.
G-luck everyone!
(images: FIVB)