Volleyball…Beijing 2008

Full article from FIVB. The German pair now face May Treanor and Walsh later today for a spot in the final.

 
Rieke Brink-Abeler (right) celebrates a German point with Hella Jurich

Phuket, Thailand, November 3, 2007 - Rieke Brink-Abeler and Hella Jurich earned their first-ever “final four” appearance in a SWATCH-FIVB World Tour event as the 14th-seeded Germans upset the Salgados while defeating the Brazilian sisters for the first-time ever here Saturday afternoon in US$200,000 Phuket Thailand Open powered by ptt.

 

With their 21-19 and 21-19 win in 48 minutes over Maria Clara and Carolina Salgado, Brink-Abeler and Jurich will be seeking their first-ever international Beach Volleyball medal starting with a semi-final meeting later Saturday on Karon Beach against reigning Olympic and three-time SWATCH-FIVB World champions Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh of the United States.

 

Saturday’s second “final four” match will have fourth-seeded Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs of the United States challenging second-seeded Jia Tian and Jie Wang of China.  Branagh and Youngs had to win two elimination matches Saturday to reach their third-straight SWATCH semi-final while the Germans had to play only one contest on Karon Beach.

 

“I think the big difference today was that we were the fresher team,” said the 27-year old Brink-Abeler, who is appearing in her 42nd FIVB with Jurich.  “It was hot and humid out there and the Brazilians had a tough three-setter against another powerful team from their country earlier in the morning.”

 

As for reaching the Phuket Thailand Open, Brink-Abeler called it “the highlight of my Beach Volleyball career.  We reached the quarterfinals in Berlin earlier this year for our previous highlight, but now we are in position to medal internationally.  We are excited, but we face a big challenge against the American champions.”

 

Brink-Abeler and Jurich had placed fifth on six different occasions on the SWATCH tour as the Berlin effort in mid-July was stopped when the Germans dropped a 21-15 and 21-16 elimination decision to May-Treanor and Walsh in the quarterfinals in the only meeting between the two teams.

 

“The key against Misty and Kerri is siding out,” said Brink-Abeler.  “Obviously, they will be the fresher team today since it will be their first match.  They are the heavy favorites, so maybe the pressure is on them.  However, they know how to handle the pressure.”

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