The Official Site of Misty May

Mon, Sep 22nd 2008, 09:55

May-Treanor, Walsh extend run

MANHATTAN BEACH Calif. — Back in April ago when the 2008 AVP season started in Miami, Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor started out their historic year with a three-set win over Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh. Six months later they finished the season by ending their historic year in a historic location with a two set victory over No. 4 seed Jennifer Boss and April Ross 21-18 and 21-16.

“This is a huge tournament and it’s been such an amazing season, but after losing the two tournaments after the Olympics kind of took the wind out of our sails,” said Walsh. “We worked so hard and were on such a high, plus we don’t like losing. It’s fun to get it now.”

Not wanting to see a repeat of their early morning loss to Boss and Ross, Walsh and May-Treanor came out for the final match with more intensity and fire to play. After breaking a 7-7 tie in set one, Walsh and May-Treanor turned on the heat with a 7-2 run to give them their biggest lead of the set at 14-9.

Boss and Ross fought back and gave the Olympic gold medalists a run for their money during a gritty rally at 13-17. Despite Boss and Ross coming out on the positive side of that rally by getting the point, Walsh and May-Treanor turned up the heat a notch to win the set 21-18.

“I think the difference was in the four aces in the whole match and I think we both sided-out in the high 600s,” said Walsh of the difference between their first and second meeting of the day with Boss and Ross. “There were a couple of aces in there and a couple of balls we did not transition. There were so many opportunities. I wanted redemption against them so bad that I was glad that they beat Elaine and Nicole so we could meet them in the final.”

Set two was similar where after Walsh and May-Treanor broke through a 2-2 tie, they kept building a lead that was too much for Boss and Ross to overcome and resulted in a 21-16 match win.

“Kerri and Misty played better than they did this morning,” said Boss. “When that team plays well it is tough to beat them and we didn’t play as well, which is a combination that messed us up. We served well, but I think they stepped up their hitting and when they are hitting, they are a tough team to beat.”

“We stayed the same as we as aggressive as we always are, played with focus and determination, but they increased their determination and fire,” said Ross.

Today’s win earns Walsh and May-Treanor another plaque on the Manhattan Beach Pier Walk of Fame, the distinction of being the first women’s team to win the Manhattan Beach Open four consecutive years and they will split the largest domestic tournament paycheck. Second place many not be ideal, but for Boss and Ross they finish the season with splitting a $75,000 paycheck to split and feeling good about where the future is taking them.