USA’s Walsh Jennings/Ross overcome Spain’s Lili/Elsa for gold medal at FIVB Long Beach Grand Slam

Long Beach, California, USA, August 28, 2016 – Rejoicing in the joy of playing in their home country and lapping up the affection poured on them by the cheering stadium capacity crowd, USA’s 2016 Olympic bronze medalists Kerri Walsh Jennings/April Ross marched masterfully to the gold medal match victory over Spain’s Liliana Fernandez/Elsa Baquerizo Sunday at the ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball featuring the $800,000 FIVB Long Beach Grand Slam in Los Angeles, Calif. Quick links – Long BeachLong Beach Grand Slam websiteQualification – MenQualification – WomenMain draw – MenMain draw – WomenThe top-seeded American duo won in two sets over Spain’s seventh-seeded Olympians Liliana Fernandez/Elsa Baquerizo, 21-16, 21-16 in the 50-minute internationally-televised gold medal match.The 2016 FIVB World Tour regular season ended Sunday in the United States with the ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball after six days on a colorful purpose-built venue at Alamitos Beach adjacent to Marina Green Park on East Shoreline Drive.FIVB LONG BEACH GRAND SLAM PURSE/POINTSThe gold medal teams at the FIVB Long Beach Grand Slam will split $57,000 and 800 points, the silver $43,000 and 720 points, the bronze $32,000 and 640 points and fourth place $24,000 and 560 points.GOLD MEDAL REVIEWIn the gold medal match that pitted Olympians, USA’s Walsh Jennings/Ross stayed the course of their design to win in straight sets Spain’s ‘die-hared’ sisters Lili/Elsa who never say ‘quit’ during a matchThe Americans remain unbeaten with a 4-0 record against the Spaniards including three this season. Prior to Sunday, USA’s Walsh Jennings/Ross defeated Spain’s Lili/Elsa in two sets in the semifinals of this year’s FIVB Cincinnati Open and the quarterfinals at this year’s Swatch FIVB Hamburg Major in Germany. USA’s Walsh Jennings/Ross tandem has now won two of the last three gold medals at the ASICS World Series of Volleyball, sandwiched around the silver medal in 2015.In the first set, Spain led early at 5-4 that would be their last lead of the match. USA scored 10 real points in the first set, including five aces (the first three of which were tricklers).The second set was much closer and was tied nine times, the last at 11-11. Spain trailed 16-14, but USA ended the set and match on a 5-2 run.This was the 19th final four appearance for USA’s Walsh Jennings/Ross in 30 career FIVB World Tour events as a team. They now have 11 gold medals, three silver medals, three silver medals and two fourth-place finishes. Individually, this was the 1116th FIVB World Tour event for both Americans. Walsh Jennings now has 55 FIVB gold medals and Ross has 21 career FIVB World Tour gold medals.This was the 10th final four appearance for Spain’s Lili/Elsa in 98 career FIVB World Tour events as a team. They have now won five silver medals, two bronze medals and have three fourth place finishes. Individually, this was the 98th FIVB World Tour event for Lili and the 100th for Elsa.Statistically speaking, USA’s Walsh Jennings record 14 kills, two blocks and two ace serves in the gold medal match. Her teammate Ross had 12 kills, four aces and three digs.For Spain, Lili had seven kills and one block. Spain’s Elsa had 11 kills, eight digs and one ace serve.USA REMARKSEnjoying the adoration of a stadium packed with USA …

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