Kessy and Ross Win Sets Up All-American Beach Volleyball Final

Misty and Kerri’s win against China earlier in day sets up an all-American gold match

The women's beach volleyball final will be an all-American affair after all.

The fourth-seeded team of Jen Kessy and April Ross vanquished Brazil's top-ranked team of Juliana and Larissa, winning in three sets 21-15, 19-21 and 12-15.

The Brazilian tandem was nearly flawless in execution early on but got sloppy in game two — and that's when the Americans made their move. Kessy and Ross battled back to lead 18-16 and didn't look back for a 21-19 win. In game three, U.S. had an 9-6 lead early and held on for the win.

With the loss, Brazil will play China in the game to determine the bronze medal winner. That leaves Team USA guaranteed the gold and silver.

Earlier in the day, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings defeated China's 2008 bronze medal winners Xue Chen and Zhang Xi 22-20, 22-20 in their semifinal match.

With the win, May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings will now be in their third Olympic gold medal game and are guaranteed at least a silver medal in London.

"We want to seal the deal that we're the best team that's ever happened," Walsh Jennings told The Associated Press after their win. "Misty has changed my life. I just love her. I want to win tomorrow for us."

As both American teams advanced, it is the first ever all-American women's Olympic beach volleyball final. The U.S. men have met in a final (1996), but the latest the U.S. women met prior was the semis in 2004.
 
"I had a picture in my head at the beginning of the season of how I wanted us to play, and we're living that picture," Walsh Jennings told the AP. "But it's not over yet."
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