The U.S. women’s teams finished perfect in pool play Wednesday and remain the favorites for gold and silver in beach volleyball.

The Norwegians found a chink in the armor of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh. But as much as they tried to hammer away at it, the top women’s team in the world still won easily.

May-Treanor/Walsh beat Hakedal/Torlen 21-12, 21-15 to win their 104th consecutive match and enter the Round of 16 undefeated.

Hakedal/Torlen served Walsh continually, forcing a few passing errors and stealing some points, but Walsh countered with seven blocks and an ace for match point.

“We Outscrapped them,” Walsh told NBC. “We out-hearted them.”

May-Treanor told NBC it was imperfect, but worked out fine. “It can be the ugliest ball, but we’ll take the ‘W.’”

Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs had a close call over Cuba depite bad serving and siding out, 21-19, 13-21, 15-12.

The men’s team of Gibb/Rosenthal face Japan’s Asahi/Shiratori on Thursday to wind up pool play for the U.S. teams, who have all qualified for the elimination Round of 16.

Posted in: Beach culture • Volleyball |

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