LONDON — A major upset unfolded in women’s Olympic beach volleyball last night, setting up an all-American gold medal match tonight.
And then after the match, trash talk ensued. Who knew there was trash talk in beach volleyball?
Earlier, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, the most well-known American women’s volleyball team ever who are playing in their final competition together, advanced to the final with a 2-0 (22-20, 22-20) win over China’s Zhang Xi and Xue Chen.
May-Treanor, following the lead of swimmer Michael Phelps, is retiring after these Olympics.
Two hours later, in their own semifinal match, Jennifer Kessy and April Ross shocked Brazil’s Larissa and Juliana, the No. 1-ranked team in the world, to advance to the final against their more famous countrymates.
When it was suggested to Kessy that she and Ross are the other U.S. women’s team, she channeled her inner Rex Ryan and said, “Not after that. No way. If anyone saw that game and said who’s that other U.S. team then they didn’t watch the game.
“We are our own team. Kerry and Misty deserve everything that they get and we know why they’re famous. They have two [Olympic] gold medals. But April and I are here. We’re in the finals and we’re not just the other U.S. team right now.’’
When asked if, since May-Treanor is retiring, it might be “awkward’’ standing in her way of winning a final gold medal, Kessy said, “We’re the underdogs. We’re the lower-ranked team at this point. They do have two gold medals, so we’re not spoiling anything. We’re here to battle.’’
Kessy said she gave May-Treanor a hug before their game and said, “Congratulations,’’ and May-Treanor told her “Good luck. I want to see you tomorrow.’’
“We’re all in this together and it’s all great right now, but we’re not going to be hugging until after the game,’’ Kessy said. “We’re friends. We’re proud of them and they’re proud of us. We’ll probably have a beer together with them when it’s over.’’
When last night’s match was over, both Kessy and Ross seemed as stunned to win as the Brazilians were to lose. The Brazilians had beaten them the last nine times they’d met and were 18-4 overall in head-to-head play.
“I’m just speechless. It was hard to come in expecting to win,’’ Ross said.
“I hoped for this day to come,’’ Kessy said. “I went over it in my dreams — day dreams and night dreams — and I always had a hard time seeing it come true.’’
The U.S. lost the first game 21-15, came back to win the second 21-19 and the deciding game 15-12. The Brazilians had previously not lost a single set in these Olympics.
The Americans were up 14-10, but lost two quick points in a row. They took a timeout after Kessy hit a ball out.
“I shanked that ball to make it 14-12. We went to sit in a timeout and I said, ‘No, this is our turn. We are siding out right now. We are winning the game.’ I thought about the nine times we had lost to them and thought that is not happening again.’’