Ross, partner earn silver
LONG BEACH — To be among the best in the world, yet less than their best, was gratifying, if even it was a little maddening for the decorated women’s beach volleyball duo of Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross on Sunday.
The No. 8-seeded Americans, playing their first tournament together since Walsh Jennings dislocated her right hitting shoulder more than a month ago, battled through the World Series of Beach Volleyball field to reach the gold-medal match of the Federation Internationale de Volleyball Grand Slam event at Alamitos Bay.
The No. 2-seeded Brazilian pair of Larissa Franca Maestrini and Talita Da Rocha Antunes prevailed, 21-19, 21-17, to claim their fourth title in seven tournaments this summer. In the final, the Brazilians displayed the kind of consistency that allowed them to win all seven of their matches in Long Beach.
But what Walsh Jennings and Ross displayed through the adversity of Walsh Jennings being relegated to serving underhanded, as well as not taking full swings at the net with her damaged shoulder, was momentous as well.
“Big picture, I feel like we can be the best team in the world,” said Walsh Jennings, a three-time Olympic gold medalist. “We played like it all week long. We just played against the best in the world [Sunday] and now we know their level. And now we know that we have more and better.”
Talita, named the best hitter on the FIVB tour the last two seasons who had a match-best 21 kills Sunday, also acknowledged that the Americans’ improbable runner-up finish.
“I think this match was special because what Kerri did this week was so incredible,” Talita said. “We had to forget about her and think about the match, and we did. Everybody came to support [Walsh Jennings] and she played with her heart. She played so hard. We just tried to do our best and forget about all these things.”
Ross, a former Newport Harbor High standout who along with fellow Costa Mesa resident Jennifer Fopma won Assn. of Volleyball Professionals tournaments the previous two weekends, also continues to have an unforgettable summer. She had 17 kills and three aces, the latter lifting her tournament total to 25 in seven matches, six of which the Americans won. Ross was named MVP of the tournament, which she both appreciated and dismissed.
“It was very nice of them, but I don’t really believe in MVP,” said Ross, the MVP in 2013 and 2014 on the AVP tour, “It’s a two-person sport and it’s one of the hardest sports to play, so you have to have two people playing at a high level to get to the spot that we got to in this tournament. I think the team was MVP, for sure. [Coach Marcio Sicoli] came up with some amazing game plans.”
Walsh Jennings, however, was eager to point out that Ross’ MVP recognition was well-deserved.
Walsh Jennings, 37 and 6-foot-3, also acknowledged that Ross’ continued development on defense will prompt the duo to abandon split blocking in the future. The change will allow Walsh Jennings to block exclusively, leaving the bulk of the digging opportunities to the 6-1 Ross.
“I love playing defense and [Ross] is a great blocker,” Walsh Jennings said. “But one of the biggest things I’ve learned here is that [Ross not blocking] is such an important rhythm for us to be in. When she’s in a defensive rhythm, it makes me a better blocker and vice versa. So, I think moving forward, that needs to happen, because we are very strong, and all we care about is winning, so we want to put our best selves out there.”
Ross and Walsh Jennings said they both made mistakes that cost them a chance to prevail in the final.
“We got to see [the Brazilians] at full strength and they didn’t get to see us at full strength,” Ross said. “So, I think we learned a lot from that match. I still think we should have won, but a couple things went their way and we’re going to fix it next time … There was a lot in our hands that we didn’t take advantage of.”
Walsh Jennings and Ross will compete in an FIVB Grand Slam event this week in Poland, as they continue their push to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“I honestly feel like we are just scratching the surface [as a team], but I really believe we’ve turned a corner on defense,” Walsh Jennings said. “April is playing at a different level. I need to rise to her level. Then, it’s all in our hands. It’s all inside of us.
“This whole [injury] situation has brought us closer together. Our communication is much tighter. We’re using all of our resources, we’re leaning more on our coach, and we’re trusting each other. It has just been a fun process.”