Misty May-Treanor & Kerri Walsh: Biggest Hurdles in Bid for Olympic Three-Peat

As evidenced by the elimination of Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser, it's not an easy road to Olympic gold in beach volleyball.

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh made it look easy in Athens and Beijing, where they never even lost a set. They are 3-0 in London despite dropping a set to the Schwaiger sisters of Austria in their last match.

As the elimination rounds begin, here are five hurdles that the greatest-ever women's beach volleyball team must be aware of...

5. Sanne Keizer and Marleen Van Iersel

Let's not get ahead of ourselves and start talking about the finals just yet. 

May-Treanor and Walsh have a tough matchup in the first round against the Dutch duo of Sanne Keizer and Marleen Van Iersel. The team won a European Championship earlier this year and has played together since 2008, winning a silver and bronze medal through seven FIVB events this year.

Keizer and Van Iersel took a set off of Americans April Ross/Jen Kessy in pool play. It was an impressive set at that, as they won 25-12. That shows that when they're in a groove, they can beat anyone.

4. The First Set

If Misty and Kerri are going to lose, it's not going to be after they win the first set of a match. Trailing 1-0 against the two-time defending gold medalists is just too steep of a hill to climb.

However, if they lose the first set like they did the other night, an upset could be in the works. In a sport where sets can sometimes last just 15 minutes, a loss in the first frame can turn into elimination very quickly.

Just ask Rogers and Dalhausser.

3. The Other Americans

While they're not household names like Misty and Kerri, the other American team is in the hunt for gold.

April Ross and Jen Kessy won the World Championships in 2009 and have nine wins on the FIVB Tour. They are 4-0 so far in the tournament and could very well be Misty and Kerri's opponent in the final match.

2. Injury

This one goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway as a reminder that there are no bench players in beach volleyball. If someone is hurt and can't play, that's it.

Misty just turned 35 and is not bulletproof, as evidenced by her Dancing With the Stars mishap that ended in a torn Achilles. Kerri is 33 and has stayed healthy for the most part, but has had shoulder problems in the past.

No one is invincible. They need to stay healthy (pinkeye is OK, though). 

1. Juliana Felisberta Silva and Larissa Franca

Brazilians Juliana Felisberta Silva and Larissa Franca are part of the top-seeded team for a reason.

The 2011 World Championships are one of a record 44 international wins for the team, and after missing out on Beijing due to knee surgery, Felisberta Silva is hungry to dominate with her longtime partner.

In six meetings during 2011, the Brazilians went 5-1 against Misty and Kerri and they haven't lost a set through four matches in London.