AND WOMEN S TEAMS PROFILES PARTICIPATING TEAMS LEGEND

Transcription

1 004 WOMEN S PARTICIPATING TEAMS AND WOMEN S TEAMS PROFILES Cook-Sanderson AUS Lochowicz-Pottharst AUS Adriana Behar-Shelda BRA Ana Paula-Sandra Pires BRA 8-83 Yanchulova-Yanchulova BUL Dumont-Martin CAN Tian Jia-Wang Fei CHN L.Wang-W.H. You CHN Novakova-Celbova CZE 9-93 Larrea Peraza-Fernandez Grasset CUB Pohl-Rau GER Lahme-Müsch GER Sfyri-Karadassiou GRE Koutroumanidou-Arvaniti GRE Perrotta-Gattelli ITA Tokuno-Kusuhara JPN Gaxiola-Garcia MEX LEGEND Blocker Blocker Passing from left Passing from right Defender Defender Passing from left Passing from right Kadijk R.-Leenstra NED Maaseide-Glesnes NOR Hakedal-Torlen NOR Naidoo-Willand RSA Schnyder-Benoît-Kuhn SUI Walsh-May USA McPeak-Youngs USA 1-13 Athletes Honours last updated on 15th July

2 1 AUS Cook Sanderson AUS First name Natalie «Nat» Last name Cook Birth date Nationality AUS Hometown Brisbane (Queensland) Languages Eng Physical Data 181 cm 7 kg Sponsor(s) Nike, Oakley, Metway Profession Beach Volleyball Player Hobbies Golf, Movies, Reading, Business First name Nicole Last name Sanderson Birth date Nationality AUS Hometown Upper Mount Gravatt Languages Eng/Fra Physical Data 183 cm 66 kg Sponsor(s) Nike, Oakley, Metway Profession Beach Volleyball Player Hobbies Movies / Listening to music / Shopping Total Natalie Cook and Nicole Sanderson Nicole Sanderson s disappointment of 000 has turned into her excitement for 004. In June 000 in Canada, Sanderson s hopes of competing in the Sydney 000 Olympic Games ended due to a knee injury that forced her to watch the Bondi Beach action where Natalie Cook and Kerri Pottharst captured the Beach Volleyball gold medal for host Australia. Sanderson s faded dreams due to knee surgery were revived in March 003 when Pottharst decided to initially retire from international Beach Volleyball competition leaving Cook to search for a new partner to help her compete for her third Olympic medal in Athens. Cook s decision to play with Sanderson was the right one as the pair compiled enough points during the 003 portion of the qualifying process to compile enough points to rank fourth among the early provisional qualifiers for Athens. The pair finished the season placing third at the 003 FIVB World Championships in Rio de Janeiro where they dropped a three-setter to eventual gold medal winners Misty May and Kerri Walsh of the United States in the semi-finals. With Cook playing hurt with a sore right shoulder, it was Sanderson that became the playmaker as she led her team to a silver medal finish at June s Japan event. A bronze medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games with Pottharst, Cook attempted to play in the first two European events in June, but elected to miss the final two Olympic qualifying events to return to Australia for therapy. 004 Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Milan ITA Lianyungang CHN Osaka JPN Klagenfurt, Austria AUT Total Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Rhodes GRE

3 AUS Lochowicz AUS Pottharst First name Summer Louise Last name Lochowicz Birth date Nationality AUS Hometown Parkwood QLD Physical Data 181 cm 79 kg Sponsor(s) Oakley, Nike Hobbies Movies, dancing, golf First name Kerri-Ann «Kez» Last name Pottharst Birth date Nationality AUS Hometown Fairlight NSW Languages Eng/Ita/Ger Physical Data 184 cm 70 kg Sponsor(s) Bolle, Toyota, Nike Profession Beach Volleyball Player Hobbies Movies/Golf / being with friends Total Total Summer Lochowicz and Kerri Pottharst A dream come true is the way Summer Lochowicz describes her lucky break when she teamed up with Sydney 000 Beach Volleyball Olympic gold medalist Kerri Pottharst last March for the fi rst-time for a run at earning a berth in the 004 Athens Olympic Games. During their run for Athens, Lochowicz and Pottharst faced several hurdles, including playing in the required eight events together to qualify for Olympic consideration. The next hurdle was finishing among the top 3 teams on the Olympic qualification list while the final hurdle was finishing as the second-ranked Australian team among the top 3 tandems for Athens. With the addition of an event in Mallorca to give the women eight events in 004 before the deadline for qualification, Lochowicz and Pottharst were able to amass enough points to clear the first two hurdles in meeting the Olympic requirements. The last hurdle was cleared on the next-to-last day of Olympic qualification as Lochowicz and Pottharst were able to advance to the final four in the Mallorca event. Angela Clarke and Kylie Gerlic, who were also competing for the second Aussie spot in Athens, placed fifth in Mallorca to fall 1 points short of bettering Lochowicz and Pottharst (1,84 to 1,64). Prior to the start of the Olympic process, Pottharst had decided to retire, leaving long-time partner Natalie Cook to play with Nicole Sanderson for their successful bid as Australia s No. 1-ranked team. Pottharst, who also won the bronze medal with Cook at the 1996 Atlanta Games, decided to return for a third Olympic bid and started playing with Clarke last August while Lochowicz was competing with Gerlic. As luck would have it, Gerlic ended her partnership with Lochowicz and teamed with Clarke for the last three SWATCH-FIVB World Tour events of 003. With her Olympic hopes fading without a partner, Pottharst turned to Lochowicz and the rest is a storybook finish for Australia s No. women s team in Athens. Year Tournament Country Ranking Prize money 004 Mallorca ESP Stavanger NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Fortaleza BRA

4 1 BRA Adriana Behar Shelda BRA First name Adriana Last name Brandão Behar Birth date Nationality BRA Hometown Rio de Janeiro Languages Eng/Por/ Ita Physical Data 180 cm 64 kg Sponsor(s) Olympikus Profession Fiscal Education Teacher Hobbies Internet, Photography, music First name Shelda Kelly Last name Bruno Bede Birth date Nationality BRA Hometown Lagoa Rio de Janeiro Languages Por Physical Data 165 cm 59 kg Sponsor(s) Olympikus Profession Beach Volleyball Player Hobbies Having dinner with my friends, Reading, Cinema, music, tennis Total Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede The gold medal drought of 003 is now history for Adriana Behar and Shelda, the most successful team on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour. One of the longest and most productive partnerships in international Beach Volleyball history for either men or women, Adriana Behar and Shelda ended a streak of 0-straight events without a gold medal finish by capturing June s women s event in Japan. Two weeks later in Germany at the Berlin Grand Slam, the Brazilians captured their 31st FIVB title together. Adriana Behar and Shelda, who started playing together in November 1995, have placed on the podium at the last four FIVB World Championships, including gold medal finishes in 1999 and 001. The Brazilians also captured the silver medal at the Sydney 000 Olympic Games and were the World Tour champions for five consecutive years ( ). Until the formation of several new partnerships on the World Tour after the Sydney Games, Adriana Behar and Shelda dominated the competition. In addition to a challenge from Brazilians Ana Paula Connelly and Sandra Pires, Adriana Behar and Shelda have to contend with the likes of the American teams of Misty May/Kerri Walsh and Holly McPeak/Elaine Youngs. Few other teams can match them for the consistency and longevity they have shown since joining the World Tour with 31 World Tour victories over the past nine years. Among all men s and women s teams that have played together on the World Tour since 1987, Adriana Behar and Shelda have combined to earn over $1.7m together. Not one of the more physical-looking women s team, Adriana Behar is recognized as one of the biggest Beach Volleyball players while Shelda (nicknamed the cat ) is considered one of the best defensive players ever, if not the best. 004 Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Fortaleza BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Milan ITA Osaka JPN Total Klagenfurt, Austria AUT Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Rhodes GRE Vitoria Open BRA Mallorca Open ESP Maoming Open CHN Osaka Open JPN

5 1 BRA Ana Paula Sandra Pires BRA First name Ana Paula Last name Connelly Birth date Nationality BRA Hometown Leblon Languages Por/Eng Physical Data 183 cm 68 kg Sponsor(s) Olympikus Profession Volleyball player Hobbies Host my TV programme, Raise dogs First name Sandra Last name Pires Tavares Birth date Nationality BRA Hometown Rio de Janeiro Languages Por Physical Data 174 cm 64 kg Sponsor(s) Olympikus Profession Beach Volleyball Player Hobbies Reading, sport, cinema, dancing Total Total Ana Paula Connelly and Sandra Pires For Sandra Pires, it will be another Olympics with another partner, and maybe, another Beach Volleyball medal. But first, Sandra Pires and Ana Paula Connelly must overcome injuries that have seen them participate in only three of the first nine SWATCH-FIVB World Tour events in 004. The 003 season saw Sandra Pires and Ana Paula playing together for the first-time and they were an instant success, claiming four gold medals, four silver and two other top nine finishes to claim the Golden Sands Top Team Trophy for finishing the season as the top-ranked team on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour. 8 The first woman to carry the Brazilian flag during the Olympic opening ceremony at the Sydney Games, Pires will participate in Athens with Ana Paula. Sandra Pires joins Australia s Natalie Cook and Kerri Pottharst as the only women s or men s players with two Olympic Beach Volleyball medals after winning the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games with Jackie Silva and the bronze medal at the Sydney 000 Games with Adriana Samuel. After an illustrious Volleyball career, Ana Paula started her beach career in She played on Brazil s three-time World Grand Prix championship team in 1994, 1996 and 1998 that netted the bronze at the Atlanta Olympic Games. She was also awarded the best player trophy at the 1994 World Cup. Despite their different backgrounds, the two Brazilians have gelled into a superb combination with the outstanding skills at the net from Ana Paula, superbly matched by Sandra Pires back court urgency. 004 Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Fortaleza BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Milan ITA Osaka JPN Klagenfurt, Austria AUT Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Rhodes GRE

6 BUL Yanchulova L. Yanchulova P. BUL First name Tzvetelina «Lina» Last name Yanchulova Birth date Nationality BUL Hometown San Diego, CA Languages Bul/Eng Physical Data 180 cm 65 kg Sponsor(s) Nike, Doggers Profession Beach Volleyball Player Hobbies Comedy, Music, Dancing First name Petia Last name Yanchulova Birth date Nationality BUL Hometown San Diego (CA) Languages Bul/Eng Physical Data 178 cm 65 kg Sponsor(s) Nike, Doggers Profession Beach Volleyball Player Hobbies Travelling/Tennis/Reading/Skiing Total Total Lina Yanchulova and Petia Yanchulova Little did the Yanchulova sisters know on an afternoon in May, but their win over a team from France on the Greek island of Rhodes actually earned them a trip to the 004 Athens Games. Petia and her younger sister Lina posted 1 more points than France s Ethel-Julie Arjona and Virginie Kadjo to secure the 3rd and final spot for Athens as the last berth was filled by a team from the African continent. The difference for the Bulgarians was a 1-15, 18-1, victory over Arjona and Kadjo on May It was the only time the Yanchulovas had defeated the French in three matches since the Olympic qualifying process started in the beginning of 003, counting as part of the team s best eight finishes on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour as the Bulgarians compiled 1,100 points. Both Yanchulovas started playing Volleyball when they were 10-years-old and competed for Club Levski - one of the best sports clubs in Bulgaria. While playing with the elite in Bulgaria, Lina, received a scholarship to play at the University of Idaho in Moscow where her team won four-straight conference titles. While Petia was playing Volleyball for the University of San Diego in the late 1990s, Lina was there learning the Beach game. In 1998, the two sisters started playing together in Beach Volleyball tournaments. From there, the Yanchulovas earned a berth at the Sydney 000 Olympic Games where they placed 17th by winning one of three matches. 004 Mallorca ESP Stavanger NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Timmendorfer Strand GER Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Fortaleza BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Milan ITA Alanya TUR Klagenfurt, Austria AUT Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Rhodes GRE

7 CAN Dumont Martin CAN First name Guylaine Last name Dumont Birth date Nationality CAN Hometown St. Antoine-de-Tilly, Quebec Languages Fre / Eng Physical Data 176 cm 70 kg Sponsor(s) Bolle, Nike Hobbies sea kayaking, reading First name Annie Last name Martin Birth date Nationality CAN Hometown Sherbrooke Languages Eng Sponsor(s) Bolle, Nike Total Total For Guylaine Dumont and Annie Martin, three years of hard work paid off for them with a fourth-place finish late in June at Stavanger, Norway. And maybe now, the pair might gain some hard-earned respect from Canadian Beach Volleyball fans. Playing in their final event prior to the Athens Olympic Games, Dumont and Martin became the first-ever women s team from Canada to make a final four appearance in a SWATCH-FIVB World Tour event. In advancing to the semi-finals, the Canadians defeated three other 004 Olympians from Greece, Cuba and Norway. Since starting their partnership in 00, Dumont and Martin have moved up the international rankings. From earning $1,650 in their first-season together, the Canadians compiled over $7,000 from 11 events in and have exceeded $40,000 from only seven events this season. What has been more impressive for the Canadians is the fact that they are winning more matches than they are losing. After winning less than 33 percent of their matches during their first two years (8-17), Dumont and Martin have posted a record this season with three-straight top-nine finishes. While Dumont has been playing on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour since the mid- 1990s, Martin has been playing internationally for only three seasons. Prior to teaming with Martin, Dumont s best season was 1998 when she earned over $1,000 from eight events and played in the Goodwill Games in New York s Central Park with Kristine Drakich. Dumont and Martin s berth in the Athens Games is not the first for a women s team from Canada as Margo Malowney and Barb Broen Ouellette qualified for the Atlanta Games, but dropped both of their matches. This time around, Dumont and Martin hope to mount a surprise like the 1996 efforts of John Child and Mark Heese as the Canadian men netted a bronze medal in hot Atlanta. With the weather forecasted to be hot in Athens, maybe Dumont and Martin will continue their hot streak in the Olympics. 004 Stavanger NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Fortaleza BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Milan ITA Lianyungang CHN Osaka JPN Klagenfurt, Austria AUT Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Rhodes GRE Montréal 00 CAN Gstaad Open SUI

8 1 CHN Tian Jia Wang Fei CHN First name Jia Last name Tian Birth date Nationality CHN Hometown Beijing Languages Chn Physical Data 177 cm 65 kg Profession In the army Hobbies Music Sponsor(s) Boroni, Nike, Oyea, LP First name Fei Last name Wang Birth date Nationality CHN Hometown Luoyang Languages Chn Physical Data 183 cm 68 kg Sponsor(s) Boroni, Nike, Oyea, LP Total Total Tian Jia and Wang Fei Before Wang Fei s knee injury in Japan at the start of June, she and Tian Jia ranked as a leading contender for a medal in Athens. Young and athletic, the Chinese women had placed fourth in the 004 SWATCH-FIVB season opener in Brazil to continue their improvement from an excellent 003 season. Without surgery and taking three weeks off for rehab, Wang Fei returned to play in the final two Olympic qualifying events in Norway and Mallorca where she and Tian Jia finished 17th and 13th respectively. The 003 SWATCH-FIVB World Tour season saw the two Beijingnese winning their first World Tour crowns 88 in Indonesia and Italy. Their success will give Wang Fei and Tian Jian an edge for the 008 Olympics on their home sand at which time they will be only 7 with more than 10 years experience. Prior to the knee injury in Osaka, Wang Fei used her height and agile play to become a dominating player at the net. Tian Jian s defense is considered one of the best on the tour that compliments her partner s ability up front. The key is Wang Fei s health. With 008 still four years away, Wang Fei and Tian Jian are definitely a team of the future. With a sturdy knee, Wang Fei s power and Tian Jian s defense they should never be underestimated, especially during the Athens Games in August. 004 Mallorca ESP Stavanger NOR Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Fortaleza BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Milan ITA Bali INA Lianyungang CHN Osaka JPN Klagenfurt, Austria AUT Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Rhodes GRE Maoming Open CHN Osaka Open JPN

9 CHN L.Wang W.H. You CHN First name Lu Last name Wang Birth date Nationality CHN Hometown Taiyuan Languages Chn Physical Data 189 cm 76 kg Sponsor(s) Nike Hobbies music Sponsor(s) Boroni, Nike, Oyea, LP First name Wenhui Last name You Birth date Nationality CHN Hometown Shangai Languages Chn Physical Data 178 cm 68 kg Sponsor(s) Boroni, Nike, Oyea, LP Total Total Lu Wang and Wenhui You With much of China s Beach Volleyball attention focused on Wang Fei and Tian Jian, it could be the play of Lu Wang and Wenhui You who surprises all and finishes higher in the 004 Athens Olympic Games. With a fourth-place finish earlier this season in Shanghai and another semi-final appearance at the end of the 003 season in Bali, Lu Wang and Wenhui are a pair not to be taken lightly. And like their country rivals, youth will play a factor for both Lu Wang and Wenhui as both players will still be in their 0s when the 008 Olympic Games are staged. The key moment for Lu Wang and Wenhui You was in Shanghai earlier this season when they scored a 15-1, 1-19 and win over Brazil s Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede before scoring a 1-17 and -0 win over Dalixia Fernandez Grasset and Tamara Larrea Peraza of Cuba. The feat was remarkable and help validate the progress of this combination as a capable final four team. Both the Brazilians and Cubans had much more Beach Volleyball experience and were Sydney 000 Olympians. China is a developing force in women s Beach Volleyball with an eye on the 008 Olympic Games in Beijing. For many years, teams from the Americas and Australia have dominated the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour. Times are changing and Lu Wang & Wenhui You have proven that they can play with the best in the world. 004 Mallorca ESP Stavanger NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Fortaleza BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Milan ITA Bali INA Lianyungang CHN Osaka JPN Klagenfurt, Austria AUT Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Rhodes GRE

10 CZE Novakova Celbova CZE First name Sona Last name Novakova Dosoudilova Birth date Nationality CZE Hometown Brno Languages Eng/Cze Physical Data 186 cm 80 kg Sponsor(s) Adidas, Oakley Profession Student Hobbies Sports, Boyfriens, Cinema First name Eva Last name Celbova Birth date Nationality CZE Hometown Olomouc Languages Eng/Cze Physical Data 186 cm 80 kg Sponsor(s) Adidas, Oakley Profession Student Hobbies Sports, Cinema, Music, Dance Total Total Sona Novakova and Eva Celbova Teamwork, size and an uncanny understanding of each other s game has made Sona Novakova and Eva Celbova one of the top teams on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour. Playing together since 1996, the Czech Republic tandem finished the Olympic qualifying process for the 004 Athens Games with a pair of final four finishes to help secure their return trip to the Summer Games after placing ninth in Sydney. After finishing third near the end of the 003 season in Bali, Novakova and Celbova captured another bronze medal at the final Olympic-qualifying event in 9 Mallorca where they posted their best finish on the 004 SWATCH-FIVB World Tour. Relatively similar in height, Novakova and Celbova complement each other well on court, mixing up their game when it is needed. Both are superb readers of play and can frustrate any opponent regardless of ability. Prior to 003 and after the Sydney Games, the Czech Republic tandem s best finish was a third at the 001 FIVB World Championships in Austria. If there is anything negative about their game, it is inconsistency over a period of time. To become a top four team on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour, Novakova and Celbova must achieve regular appearances in the semi-finals. Just follow the pattern of the top women s teams from North and South America. Final four appearances are expected and almost taken for granted. 004 Mallorca ESP Stavanger NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Timmendorfer Strand GER Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Milan ITA Alanya TUR Bali INA Klagenfurt, Austria AUT Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Rhodes GRE

11 CUB Larrea Peraza Fernandez Grasset CUB 1 First name Tamara Last name Larrea Peraza Birth date Nationality CUB Hometown Ciudad Habana Languages Spa Physical Data 183 cm 71 kg Sponsor(s) Adidas Profession Student Hobbies Music/Dancing/Beach Volleyball First name Dalixia Last name Fernandez Grasset Birth date Nationality CUB Hometown Guantanamo Languages Spa Physical Data 177 cm 65 kg Sponsor(s) Adidas Profession Student Hobbies Relaxing, playing, sleeping Total Total Tamara Larrea Peraza and Dalixia Fernandez Grasset There is no more athletic team on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour than Dalixia Fernandez Grasset and Tamara Larrea Peraza of Cuba. The more aggressive they play, the stronger they get. However, their problem has been consistency as Fernandez Grasset and Larrea Peraza have only once put together a string of three-straight top five finishes since becoming a team in 000. A ninth-place finish at the Sydney 000 Olympic Games where they split four matches, Fernandez Grasset and Larrea Peraza have always followed up a final four appearance with a ninth or 17th-place finish in the next two events. This was obvious earlier this season when the Cubans placed second in the Berlin Grand Slam where they lost to Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede in the finals. Fernandez Grasset and Larrea Peraza won five-straight matches, including a 1-13 and 1-14 win over Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs of the United States. The next week in Norway, Fernandez Grasset and Larrea Peraza placed 17th after losing to lesser-experience teams from Canada and Switzerland. With the weather forecast predicting hot weather in Athens, the Cubans might feel at home and will be one advantage they will looking to exploit in August. 004 Mallorca ESP Stavanger NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Fortaleza BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA Milan ITA Bali INA Lianyungang CHN Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Rhodes GRE

12 1 GER Pohl Rau GER First name Stephanie Last name Pohl Birth date Nationality GER Hometown Kiel Languages Ger/Eng/Fre Physical Data 186 cm 76 kg Sponsor(s) Venice Beach Profession Student Hobbies Basketball/Skiing First name Okka Last name Rau Birth date Nationality GER Hometown Kiel Languages Ger/Eng Physical Data 180 cm 7 kg Sponsor(s) Venice Beach Hobbies Tennis/Skiing Total Total Okka Rau and Stephanie Pohl At the end of the 003 season, Stephanie Pohl and Okka Rau were the top-ranked women s team from Europe on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour and they had pretty well secured their spot for the 004 Athens Olympic Games. The Germans finished last season by winning the European Championships in Turkey followed by four-straight top nine placings on the SWATCH- FIVB World Tour, including a ninth at the FIVB World Championships in Rio de Janeiro where only Switzerland s Nicole Schnyder-Benoit and Simone Kuhn finished ahead of them in the final rankings. With Suzanne Lahme gaining more Beach Volleyball experience in 004 with Danja Müsch, Pohl and Rau s efforts were being overshadowed by Germany s second team. In nine SWATCH-FIVB World Tour events four finishes have been lower than 13th. And the 003 European Beach Volleyball champions placed fifth this season in the continental finals. This was increasingly evident at the Berlin Grand Slam at the end of June with Lahme and Müsch placing fourth while Pohl and Rau finished 17th. A 19-1, 3-1 and 15-7 setback to Lahme and Müsch did not sit well with Pohl and Rau. A lack of consistency and concentration is the difference between the two seasons during the Olympic qualifying process. Pohl and Rau s steady play and concentration lead them to Athens, but a lack of focus could eliminate them from medal contention at the 004 Olympics Games. 004 Mallorca ESP Stavanger NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Timmendorfer Strand GER Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Fortaleza BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Milan ITA Alanya TUR Lianyungang CHN Osaka JPN Klagenfurt, Austria AUT Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER

13 GER Lahme Müsch GER First name Susanne Last name Lahme Birth date Nationality GER Hometown Bergholz-rehbrücke Languages Ger Sponsor(s) ASICS First name Danja Last name Müsch Birth date Nationality GER Hometown Köln Languages Eng/Fre/Ger Physical Data 179 cm 67 kg Sponsor(s) ASICS Profession Student Hobbies Snowboarding/Badminton Total Total Susanne Lahme and Danja Müsch There will be no more experienced Volleyball players at the Olympics than Susanne Lahme and Danja Müsch, but the problem might be their lack of time together on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour. Müsch will be competing in Beach Volleyball at the Olympics for the third-time after placing seventh with Bete Buhler in 1996 at Atlanta and ninth in the Sydney 000 Games with Maike Friedrichsen. For Lahme, it will be her fourth overall Olympics after competing in the 1988, 1996 and 000 Games for the German Volleyball team. She started playing with Müsch at the end of the 00 season with the pair competing in only one Main Draw in their first six events together. Since then, the Germans have placed among the top nine finishers in 15 of the next 16 SWATCH-FIVB World Tour events. Highlighting the run was back-to-back final four finishes in their last two qualifying events for the Athens Games, including a fourth in Berlin and a second in Mallorca. The pair also collected a silver medal last season in China. Müsch laughs when one might question Lahme s Beach Volleyball experience. She probably has played more Volleyball than any other player on this circuit, said Müsch. I have played in three times more Beach events, but she knows the game. I am honored to play with her. 004 Mallorca ESP Berlin GER Timmendorfer Strand GER Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Fortaleza BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Milan ITA Lianyungang CHN Osaka JPN Klagenfurt, Austria AUT Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Rhodes GRE Mallorca Open ESP

14 1 GRE Sfyri Karadassiou GRE First name Efrosyni «Efi» Last name Sfyri Birth date Nationality GRE Hometown Athens Languages Gre/Eng/Fre Physical Data 180 cm 67 kg Sponsor(s) Nokia, Adidas, Oakley Hobbies Literature, Tennis First name Vassiliki «Vasso» Last name Karadassiou Birth date Nationality GRE Hometown Athens Languages Gre/Eng/Ita Physical Data 18 cm 7 kg Sponsor(s) Adidas, Oakley Profession Teacher of Greek literature Hobbies Cinema/Music Total Total Efi Sfyri and Vasso Karadassiou Since teaming up in 1994, Vasso Karadassiou and Efi Sfyri have emerged as the most successful Beach Volleyball team in Greece, winning dozens of tournaments at home and scoring some of Greece s most inspiring successes on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour. At first playing Volleyball in the winter and on the beach in the summer, Karadassiou and Sfyri won the Panhellenic title four times since the competition was established in In 1998, for the first-time in Greece, the Hellenic Volleyball Federation decided to sign up Karadassiou and Sfyri as a permanent Beach Volleyball national team. 100 Karadassiou and Sfyri decided to quit their indoor activity to pursue a full-time career on the beach. After failing to make the Main Draw in their first four SWATCH-FIVB World Tour events in 1997 and at the start of 1998, the Greek ladies placed 17th or higher in 16 of their next 1 events. The efforts in 1999 and 000 led them to the Sydney Olympic Games where they became Greece s first-ever participants in either Volleyball or Beach Volleyball. During those two seasons, Karadassiou and Sfyri also won a European Tour stop in Xylokastron (before an ecstatic home crowd) as well as an unprecedented fifth-place finish in the 000 season opener in Vitoria, Brazil. In qualifying again for the Athens Games, Karadassiou and Sfyri have become a consistent top nine finisher on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour. A stretch of fourstraight fifth-place finishes at the end of last season provided them the assurance of competing before the home folks in this year s Olympics. A fourth in Japan followed by a fifth in the European Championships also provided Karadassiou and Sfyri with a confidence boost. 004 Mallorca ESP Stavanger NOR Berlin GER Timmendorfer Strand GER Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Fortaleza BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Milan ITA Alanya TUR Lianyungang CHN Osaka JPN Klagenfurt, Austria AUT Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Rhodes GRE

15 GRE Koutroumanidou Arvaniti GRE First name Efthalia Last name Koutroumanidou Birth date Nationality GRE Hometown Athens Languages Gre, Eng, Fre Physical Data178 cm 64 kg Sponsor(s) Adidas, Oakley Profession Student Hobbies Music First name Vassiliki Last name Arvanity Birth date Nationality GRE Hometown Athens Languages Gre/Eng Sponsor(s) Adidas, Oakley Total Total Efthalia Koutroumanidou and Vassiliki Arvaniti With Vasso Karadassiou and Efi Sfyri the featured Beach Volleyball players from Greece on the SWATCH- FIVB World Tour, it has been the play of Vassiliki Arvaniti and Efthalia Koutroumanidou that has quietly given the host country its second women s entry in the 004 Games. While Karadassiou and Sfyri earned their spot with a solid start to the Athens qualifying process in 003, Arvaniti and Koutroumanidou finished the competition by finishing 48 points (1,648 to 1,600) behind the veteran Greek team for the host country s top spot in the Beach Volleyball competition. The top spot for the host country is important since Karadassiou and Sfyri will have a better opportunity to advance from pool play. The two Greek teams have only played each other once with the younger Arvaniti and Koutroumanidou defeating the veterans 1-18 and 1-18 at July s Swatch-FIVB World Tour stop in Norway. Arvaniti (19) and Koutroumanidou (1) will be the youngest team in the Beach Volleyball competition at the Olympics. With nine top-nine placings over the past two seasons, the young Greeks figure to use the home sand to their advantage. No one expects them to win many matches, but no one can overlook their progress on the world s most competitive women s circuit. 004 Mallorca ESP Stavanger NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Timmendorfer Strand GER Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Fortaleza BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Milan ITA Alanya TUR Lianyungang CHN Osaka JPN Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Rhodes GRE

16 ITA Perrotta Gattelli ITA First name Lucilla Last name Perrotta Birth date Nationality ITA Hometown Roma Languages Ita/Eng Physical Data 178 cm 61 kg Sponsor(s) Nike, ASICS, Aznette Profession Volleyball Player Hobbies Music/Cinema First name Daniela Last name Gattelli Birth date Nationality ITA Hometown Rome Languages Eng/Ita Physical Data 180 cm 67 kg Sponsor(s) Nike, ASICS, Aznette Profession Volleyball Player Hobbies Reading/Cinema, music, internet Total Total Lucilla Perrotta and Daniela Gattelli It has been a struggle for Lucilla Perrotta and Daniela Gattelli over the past two seasons as the 000 Olympians from Italy have not approached the same form following the Sydney Games. Prior to being hampered with injuries over the past two seasons, Perrotta and Gattelli strung together a streak of 16 top-nine finishes in 17 events from the end of the 001 season through to the start of the 003 season. Although maintaining their spot as one of Europe s top teams with bronze medal finishes in 003 and 004 at the Continental Championships, Perrotta and 104 Gattelli went through the Olympic process with 11 placings that were 17th or lower in 17 starts. However, the Italians fortune might be changing after finishing fifth in three of four SWATCH-FIVB World Tour events before going to Athens. The only frustrating thing for Perrotta and Gattelli has been that of their 40 matches in 004 have been three-setters. With solid finishes of late, Perrotta and Gattelli could surprise one of the favorites. The Italians posted a - mark in Sydney and dropped a decision to the United States Holly McPeak and Misty May to place ninth. One thing is certain, Perrotta and Gattelli are healthy and have been back competing better than ever on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour so watch for them to be back to their best at Athens. 004 Mallorca ESP Stavanger NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Timmendorfer Strand GER Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Milan ITA Alanya TUR Osaka JPN Klagenfurt, Austria AUT Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Rhodes GRE Vitoria Open BRA

17 JPN Tokuno Kusuhara JPN First name Ryoko «Ryo» Last name Tokuno Birth date Nationality JPN Hometown Matsuyama Languages Jpn Sponsor(s) Nike, Rudy Project, Mizuno First name Chiaki Last name Kusuhara Birth date Nationality JPN Hometown Ehime Languages Jpn Sponsor(s) Nike Total Total Ryo Tokuno and Chiaki Kusuhara For Japan s Chiaki Kusuhara and Ryo Tokuno, the past three months has not been the best of times for their preparation for the 004 Athens Olympic Games. Expectations were high for Kusuhara and Tokuno entering the qualifying process for the 004 Olympics. Japan had finished a surprising fourth in the Sydney 000 Olympic Games where Yukiko Takahashi and Mika Teru Saiki upset a higher-seeded American team before losing to eventual gold medalists Natalie Cook and Kerri Pottharst. After finishing 13th and fifth in the first two events this season, Kusuhara and Tokuno have not placed 106 higher than 13th in their last six SWATCH-FIVB World Tour starts, including four events where they placed 5th after finishing an event with a 0- match mark together. One of the 5ths was at the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour s annual Japan stop in Osaka. The veteran Teru Saiki and her 3-year old partner Satoko Urata posted Japan s top finish in the event (ninth) while Kusuhara and Tokuno spent two hours explaining their two-and-zero effort to a room-full of Japanese journalists. Kusuhara and Tokuno will be one of the more experienced teams playing together in Athens behind the likes of Adriana Behar/Shelda Bede, Daniela Gattelli/Lucilla Perrotta and Vasso Karadassiou/Efi Sfyri. If experience counts for anything and Kusuhara and Tokuno can get back into a winning groove, Japan might have another surprising effort for the world s top women s teams in Athens. 004 Mallorca ESP Stavanger NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Fortaleza BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Milan ITA Lianyungang CHN Osaka JPN Klagenfurt, Austria AUT Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Rhodes GRE Vitoria Open BRA

18 1 MEX Gaxiola Garcia MEX First name Hilda Last name Gaxiola Birth date Nationality MEX Hometown Guamuchil Sinaloa Languages Spa/ Eng Physical Data 181 cm 70 kg Sponsor(s) Oakley, Atletica, Nike Profession Student Hobbies Reading/Studying First name Mayra Last name Garcia Birth date Nationality MEX Hometown Tecate B. CFA Languages Mex Physical Data 173 cm 64 kg Sponsor(s) Oakley, Atletica, Nike Total Total Hilda Gaxiola and Mayra Garcia The initial surprise of the Sydney 000 Olympic Games was the performances by Mexico s men s and women s teams during the opening rounds of the Bondi Beach Volleyball competition against two Australian teams. For Hilda Gaxiola, the finish was disappointing as she and then partner Teresa Galindo dropped a decision to eventual gold medalists Natalie Cook and Kerri Pottharst after having tied the match at 11s before the Mexican men s team of Juan Ibarra and Joel Sotello upset Julien Prosser and Lee Zahner Only Gaxiola returns to Athens as she becomes Mexico s first two-time Volleyball Olympian as she competes with Mayra Garcia. Again, the Mexicans will not be given serious medal consideration this year, but Gaxiola knows the pressure of playing one of the better teams in the world s biggest Beach Volleyball event. Despite a non-qualifying Main Draw effort in Berlin, Gaxiola and Garcia has been a consistent 17th-place finisher this season. The Mexicans ended the 003 season with a fifth and four ninths in their final nine starts. The experienced Gaxiola has also been a steady influence for Garcia on the SWATCH- FIVB World Tour. Garcia is two months older than Gaxiola, but she has competed on the international circuit two years less than her partner. With an expected firstround match against one of the world s top teams, maybe the 3-year-olds can provide another wake up call in the Olympics. 004 Mallorca ESP Stavanger NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Fortaleza BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Milan ITA Bali INA Lianyungang CHN Klagenfurt, Austria AUT Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Rhodes GRE Vitoria Open BRA

19 1 NED Kadijk Leenstra NED Team name Kadijk R. First name Rebekka Last name Kadijk Birth date Nationality NED Hometown Rotterdam Languages Eng/Dut/Ger Physical Data 175 cm 66 kg Sponsor(s) Speedo Profession Beach Volleyball Player Hobbies Skiing/Climbing/Tennis Team name Leenstra First name Marrit Last name Leenstra Birth date Nationality NED Hometown Amsterdam Languages Dutch Sponsor(s) Speedo Total Total Rebekka Kadijk and Marrit Leenstra Any team that goes all the way in a Swatch FIVB World Tour event deserves the utmost of respect and that s just what Dutch duo Rebekka Kadijk and Marrit Leenstra have been receiving from opponents and fans alike since they surprised all concerned by claiming gold at the 003 Chinese Open in Lianyungang. As the rain continued to dampen the tournament sands following the Netherlands win, a rain soaked and delighted Kadijk enthused: I ve never heard the Dutch national anthem being played for us before so that was a special moment, especially for my mum as it has always been her dream, she said. The Dutch girls main asset is their versatility. Where most teams have a tall player dominating at the net while their smaller, more agile teammate takes care of the backcourt, Kadijk and Leenstra differ. They are both of a similar stature and build and both equally proficient on the spike or the dig. While Kadijk has plenty of World Tour experience, making her debut in 1997 playing with Debora Schoon Kadijk, Leenstra, a FIVB Women s Athletes Representative, has only been on the World Tour since teaming up with Kadijk. Their record since 001 has been improving year on year up to that first World Tour triumph last season and the prospects of even better things at Athens look very good. 004 Mallorca ESP Stavanger NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Milan ITA Alanya TUR Lianyungang CHN Osaka JPN Klagenfurt, Austria AUT Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Rhodes GRE Vitoria Open BRA

20 NOR Maaseide NOR Glesnes First name Kathrine Last name Maaseide Birth date Nationality NOR Hometown Villeneuve-Loubet Sponsor(s) Cebe, Nike, Adidas, Reband, Oakley First name Susanne Last name Glesnes Birth date Nationality NOR Hometown Nyborg/Bergen Languages Nor Sponsor(s) CEBE, Nike, Adidas, Reband, Oakley Total Total Kathrine Maaseide and Susanne Glesnes With an older brother earning his third trip to the Beach Volleyball Olympic competition, it is only natural that his younger sister might follow his path. Almost nine years younger than her brother Bjorn, Kathrine Maaseide will team with Susanne Glesnes as one of two Norwegian women s teams competing in the 004 Athens Olympics Games. A fixture on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour since the early 1990s, Bjorn Maaseide and Jan Kavlheim won seven international events together and competed in both the 1996 and 000 Olympic Games. Brother Bjorn is back for 004 with Iver Horrem as he plans on retiring after the Athens Games. After placing 5th and 33rd in the second and third SWATCH-FIVB World Tour events this season, Kathrine Maaseide and Glesnes got serious with three top seven finishes, including a silver medal at the European Championships where they lost to Nicole Schnyder-Benoit and Simone Kuhn of Switzerland in the finals. Both of Norway s women s teams improved as the 004 season progressed. Now, if the ladies from a country that touches the Arctic Circle can win a match or two, the world will realize that a player does not have to come from Southern California or Rio to be a force in the Olympics. 004 Mallorca ESP Stavanger NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Timmerdorfer Strand GER Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Fortaleza BRA Los Angeles USA Milan ITA Alanya TUR Lianyungang CHN Osaka JPN Klagenfurt, Austria AUT Marseille, France FRA Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Rhodes GRE

21 NOR Hakedal Torlen NOR First name Nila Ann Last name Hakedal Birth date Nationality NOR Hometown Oslo Languages Nor/Eng Physical Data 177 cm 71 kg Hobbies Juggling Sponsor(s) Wellsport, Nike, Adidas, Reband First name Ingrid Last name Torlen Birth date Nationality NOR Hometown Oslo Languages Nor Sponsor(s) Wellsport, Nike, Adidas, Reband Total Total Nila Ann Hakedal and Ingrid Torlen For Norway to advance two women s tandems to the 004 Athens Olympic Games, it came down to the final two weekends of the qualifying process where a French pair and a second Cuban team were seeking those same two spots. While Kathrine Maaseide and Susanne Glesnes appeared safely in, Nila Ann Hakedal and Ingrid Torlen were on the outside looking in as Norway sought their first attendance in the women s Olympic Beach Volleyball competition since Merita Berntsen and Ragni Hestad placed ninth in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. After finishing a disappointing 5th in the Berlin Grand Slam the previous week, Hakedal and Torlen were 4 points behind the Milagros Crespo/Imara 114 Esteves Ribalta team of Cuba and Ethel-Julie Arjona/Virginie Kadjo of France entering the Norwegian Open in Stavanger. Both teams were among the top 3 women s teams on the provisional qualifying list with 1,016 points each for their best eight finishes on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour since January 003. The first break for Hakedal and Torlen was that the French women did not advance to the Norwegian Main Draw after being upset in the qualifier by a team from the Netherlands. The second break for Hakedal and Torlen was the 17th placing by the Cubans, who needed to finish 13th or higher to improve their best eight placements. The third break for Hakedal and Torlen was their play before family, friends and fans in Stavanger, where they finished fifth for their best placing ever on the SWATCH- FIVB World Tour. With the Cubans and French not improving their overall points tally from their best-eight placings, the No. Norwegian team vaulted 14 points past them on the Olympic qualifying list to secure their berth. 004 Mallorca ESP Stavanger NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Timmendorfer Strand GER Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Fortaleza BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Milan ITA Alanya TUR Lianyungang CHN Osaka JPN Klagenfurt, Austria AUT Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI

22 RSA Naidoo Willand RSA First name Leigh-Ann Last name Naidoo Birth date ) Nationality RSA Hometown Cape Town Sponsor(s) Oakley Team name Willand First name Julia Last name Willand Birth date Nationality RSA Hometown Devils Peak Sponsor(s) Oakley Total Total Leigh-Ann Naidoo and Julia Willand In a way, there will be no pressure on South Africa s Leigh-Ann Naidoo and Julia Willand at the 004 Athens Olympic Games. The real pressure for the newly-formed Beach Volleyball team was learning about the travel and competition for the South Africans, who qualified as their continent s representative in Athens. In what takes some teams three-to-four years to learn the system, Naidoo and Willand had only 14 months to prepare for Athens. Along the way, Naidoo and Willand have had more disappointments on the sand than success. Three Main Draw finishes in 13 events for the South Africans does not justify them as legitimate medal material, but the Olympics are made up of upsets and are all about participation. With no pressure on them and little expectations, Naidoo and Willand could be one of those up-and-coming teams that can spring a surprise and upset the predications in Athens. Just ask Natalie Cook and Kerri Pottharst, who had to rally to defeat a 4th-seeded team from Mexico in their first match in the Sydney 000 Olympic Games. 004 Stavanger NOR Berlin GER Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Fortaleza BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Bali INA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Rhodes GRE

23 SUI Schnyder Benoît Kuhn SUI First name Nicole Last name Schnyder-Benoît Birth date ) Nationality SUI Hometown La Neuveville Languages Ger/Fre Physical Data 176 cm 70 kg Sponsor(s) Neutral, Swatch, Oakley First name Simone Last name Kuhn Birth date Nationality SUI Hometown Lucern Languages Ger/Fre/Eng Physical Data 183 cm 69 kg Sponsor(s) Neutral, Swatch, Oakley Hobbies Reading/Cinema/Sport Total Total Nicole Schnyder-Benoît and Simone Kuhn Credit the Swiss Laciga brothers for driving Nicole Schnyder-Benoit and Simone Kuhn to the beach. The success of Martin and Paul Laciga was instrumental in turning the 004 women s European champions into Beach Volleyball players. Like the Lacigas, Schnyder-Benoit and Kuhn compliment each other s abilities. Schnyder-Benoit plays like Paul behind the imposing work of Kuhn, who fills Martin role on the top women s Swiss team at the net. Despite not winning a SWATCH-FIVB World Tour gold medal, the pair posted a bronze medal finish earlier this season in Japan prior to topping the podium at the European Championships in Germany. And during the Olympic qualifying process since the start of the 003 season, Schnyder-Benoit and Kuhn have ranked sixth among the 4 women s qualifiers to finish behind teams from Beach heavyweights Australia, Brazil and the United States. The Swiss duo also ranked ahead of five teams that played together from Bulgaria, Cuba, the Czech Republic, Greece and Italy. Not bad for a team that has improved steadily for the past four years from being not ranked in the top 100 teams in the world in 000 to be listed in sixth position on the 004 SWATCH-FIVB World Tour point standings. 004 Stavanger NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Timmendorfer Strand GER Osaka JPN Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Fortaleza BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Milan ITA Alanya TUR Lianyungang CHN Osaka JPN Klagenfurt, Austria AUT Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Rhodes GRE

24 1 USA Walsh May USA Team name Walsh First name Kerri Last name Walsh Birth date Nationality USA Hometown Saratoga Languages Eng Sponsor(s) ChapStick, Nike, Speedo, Oakley, Casio Baby G, Gatorade, Cebe, Mikasa Total Team name May First name Misty Last name May Birth date Nationality USA Hometown Long Beach-CA Languages Eng Physical Data 18 cm 68 kg Sponsor(s) ChapStick, Nike, Speedo, Oakley, Casio Baby G, Gatorade, Cebe, Mikasa Profession Beach Volleyball Player Hobbies Coaching, making people laugh, playing with dogs, clean house Season NoTourn. 1st nd 3rd 4th 5th 7th 9th 13th place Earning US$ Total Kerri Walsh and Misty May Four years ago, Misty May and Kerri Walsh were competing in the Olympics in Sydney, but not together. Four years later, the two will again be participating in the Olympics in Athens, but together as the United States top Beach Volleyball team. Both missed medaling in Australia where Walsh s Volleyball team placed fourth while May was tying for fifth on the Beach with Holly McPeak. Walsh left the Volleyball court to team with May to develop into one of the most potent pairs on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour. In their first 31 international starts together, May and 10 Walsh claimed 14 SWATCH-FIVB World Tour gold medals and finished the 00 season as the circuit s top team. Although not playing a full FIVB schedule in 003, May and Walsh finished second behind Brazil s Ana Paula Connelly and Sandra Pires in the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour rankings. Rivals in college where May led Long Beach State to the national title while Walsh was a four-time All-American, the Americans ended the Olympic qualifying process as the No. 1-ranked team for Athens. During the process of posting eight finishes together on the 003 SWATCH-FIVB World Tour, May and Walsh captured the 003 FIVB World Championships presented by Swatch in Brazil where they defeated Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede in the finals. May and Walsh have also won international titles with different partners. During her first full-season on the beach, May netted three gold medals with McPeak in 000. With May sidelined with an abdominal strain for a month this season, Walsh teamed with Rachel Wacholder to capture July s Marseille Grand Slam. 004 Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Rhodes GRE Fortaleza BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Klagenfurt, Austria AUT Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Rhodes GRE Vitoria Open BRA Mallorca Open ESP Maoming Open CHN Osaka Open JPN Klagenfurt Grand Slam AUT Rhodes Open GRE Marseille Grand Slam FRA Montréal 00 CAN

25 1 USA McPeak Youngs USA Team name McPeak First name Holly Last name McPeak Birth date Nationality USA Hometown Manhattan Beach CA Languages Eng/Por Physical Data 170 cm 63 kg Sponsor(s) Bolle, Nike, Speedo, Oakley Profession Beach Volleyball Player Hobbies Stockmarket/Snowboarding/Traveling/Shopping Total Team name Youngs First name Elaine «Ey» Last name Youngs Birth date Nationality USA Hometown Durango COLORADO Languages Eng Physical Data 183 cm 65 kg Sponsor(s) Oakley, Nike, Bolle Profession Volleyball Player Hobbies Biking/Surfing Total McPeak and Youngs Following a formidable 00 Beach Volleyball season in which they amassed a jaw dropping win-loss ratio of 8-6 on the international and American domestic circuits, things seemed to have somewhat tailored off for Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs. It was always going to be a difficult task defending three titles, however, appearing in just one final in 003 will have irked this pair to such an extent that they wanted to remind the skeptics of just how good they are on the 004 Swatch FIVB World Tour. About a month before that aforementioned 00 season began, Youngs gave McPeak a call about 1 a possible partnership as she was concerned that her then partner s (Barbra Fontana) back injury might prevent her from playing a full term. Although they did not know each other very well and considered themselves friendly rivals, the offer was one McPeak did not decline. An unquenched desire to keep improving through hard work on and off the court cannot be good news for the duo s opponents. I break down my game every off season and I m not afraid to change, said the former U.S. national Volleyballer Youngs. While her partner McPeak noted, I m in the gym every day, I can t think of one part of my game that I don t need to improve on. That s what drives me. She s great to play with and a super-talented athlete, said McPeak of her partner. She loves to win. There are a lot of great athletes out there, but her will to win makes her better than the rest. She is also a great setter and just makes playing my game easier. 004 Stavanger NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Shanghai CHN Rhodes GRE Fortaleza BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA Los Angeles USA Klagenfurt, Austria AUT Marseille, France FRA Stavanger, Norway NOR Berlin GER Gstaad SUI Vitoria Open BRA Maoming Open CHN Klagenfurt Grand Slam AUT Rhodes Open GRE Marseille Grand Slam FRA Montréal 00 CAN Stavanger Open NOR