London 2012 Beach Volleyball: Predicting Each Women's Semifinal Match

The semifinal matches in the women’s beach volleyball tournament at the London 2012 Olympics feature four powerhouse teams battling for a chance at a spot in the gold-medal match.

The four teams remaining are the four highest-ranked duos in the world, ensuring that both contests will be thrilling events. 

Americans Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh with take on the Chinese team of Xue Chen and Zhang Xi. Following that match, April Ross and Jen Kessy—the other United States representatives—will face top-ranked Larissa and Juliana from Brazil.

Here is a breakdown and predictions for both matches.

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh vs. Xue Chen and Zhang Xi

Key for the Americans: Serve away from Xue

In the quarterfinal match, Austria’s Schwaiger sisters attempted an unorthodox strategy by directing most of their serves at Xue. The 23-year-old Chinese phenom is 6’3” and one of the most dominant players in the world at the net. 

By serving to Xue, the Austrian’s allowed her teammate Zhang to set her at the net. The theory behind the strategy was to take advantage of Xue’s passing skills, which are not quite as good as Zhang’s.

The Austrians lost in straight sets. The strategy is seldom used against the Chinese for a reason, and the Americans should take a more conventional approach.

Key for the Chinese: Xue vs. Walsh

If there is a player who can challenge Xue at the net, it is Walsh, who is also 6’3”. The American’s dominant hitting has earned her two gold medals.

If the Chinese hope to end May-Treanor and Walsh’s hopes for a third victorious run at the Olympics, Xue is going to need to record a few blocks on Walsh, while avoiding hitting errors. 

If Xue can get the best of Walsh in the match, the Chinese have an excellent chance at keeping their gold-medal hopes alive.

Prediction: May-Treanor and Walsh 2, Xue and Zhang 1

This will be an extremely close contest as these two teams are extremely evenly matched. Xue and Walsh are fantastic hitters, while May-Treanor and Zhang are brilliant passers.

Ultimately, the Americans have shown that they are intensely driven to get another gold on what appears to be their farewell tour. During the crucial points, they will be sharper than the Chinese and that will make the difference.

April Ross and Jen Kessy vs. Larissa and Juliana

Key for the Americans: Zero errors

Ross and Kessy face a monumentally difficult task against the Brazilian team. Larissa and Juliana have yet to drop a set in the tournament and have looked nearly unbeatable.

The Americans have the least experience of any of the teams in the tournament, and they must not let that show in the semifinal match. Any unforced error could doom them, and they will need to be flawless if they hope to advance any further.

Key for the Brazilians: Focus on the task at hand 

Juliana did not participate in the 2008 Olympics due to injury, and Larissa, along with a different teammate, lost to May-Treanor and Walsh in the quarterfinals. The Brazilians and the defending gold-medalists have built a rivalry, as noted by Estelle Shirbon via the Chicago Tribune, and desperately want to face each other with beach-volleyball supremacy on the line.

The Brazilians are better than Kessy and Ross, and may very well be better than any team on the planet. However, the “other Americans” are a dangerous duo and are completely capable of punishing the Brazilians if they are not entirely focused. The Brazilians must take their quest for their elusive gold medal one step at a time.

Prediction: Larissa and Juliana 2, Ross and Kessy 0

The Brazilians are simply too talented and determined to be knocked off before the gold-medal match. They have played with remarkable intensity and have been frighteningly efficient.

Ross and Kessy have had an excellent run, but Larissa and Juliana will end it in straight sets.