Costa Mesa's April Ross Goes for Bronze: Team USA Women's Volleyball

COSTA MESA, CA—Three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings and London silver medalist, Costa Mesa resident, April Ross lost last night to Brazil's Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas in the women's beach volleyball semifinals.

The ladies held their heads high as they congratulated their opponents through the net after the hard fought battle. This was the first loss of Kerri Walsh Jennings Olympic Beach Volleyball career, according to NBC Olympics announcers.

“We had so many opportunities to take the match into our hands and do what we came to do, and we didn’t do that,” Ross said to TeamUSA.org in interview. “And that is the hardest thing to swallow. They played really well and they played really well on (defense), got some great digs, kept some rallies going, but we had so many opportunities and I know it’s going to kill me to watch that."

Interviewed on the Today Show's Natalie Morales, Walsh Jennings and Ross discussed the loss in interview.

"The hometown crowd was going crazy," Morales said of the Brazilian audience that cheered unceasingly from match start to finish.

"We never had the mojo today, it was heartbreaking," Walsh Jennings said. "We won the right to fight again for Bronze."

Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross beat Australia's Louise Bawden and Taliqua Clancy 21-14, 21-16 to advance to the semifinals.

Now, they will play another team from Brazil, Larissa Franca and Talita Antunes at 6 p.m. Brazil time—for the Bronze medal.

"I am a blessed woman," Walsh Jennings said. "Today doesn't make me any less blessed, it just makes me more determined."

Ross reflected to TeamUSA.org on their chance to play for Bronze against another Brazilian team.

“It’s our final now,” said Ross, though she expects Larissa and Talita will be equally bitter about not playing for gold. The Brazilian team have a 4-1 game advantage over Walsh Jennings and Ross to date.

“They’ll fight tooth and nail," Ross said. "We’re going to have to show up and play better than we did."

The Bronze Women's Beach Volleyball will air today on NBC Olympic coverage at 6 p.m. Brazil time.

Image, Pixabay, TeamUSA.org