Olympic Beach Volleyball 2012: Men's and Women's Semis Results and Analysis

Brazil sent the top-ranked teams in men's and women's beach volleyball into the semifinals on Tuesday at the London 2012 Olympics, but only one of them advanced to the finals.

That's because Jen Kessy and April Ross of the U.S. shocked Brazil's world No. 1 tandem of Larissa and Juliana, two sets to one (15-21, 21-19, 15-12).

Here's a look at how it all went down in men's and women's beach volleyball as we head into the finals.

Men's Semifinals

Brazil def. Latvia, 2-0

The heavily favored Brazilian duo of Alison Cerutti and Emanuel Rego defeated Latvia's Martins Plavins and Janis Smedins on Tuesday, two sets to nil (21-15, 22-20).

Cerutti, using his outstanding serve, hit two aces in the match, his fastest serve reaching 57 mph. 

The Brazilians converted 27 of their 51 attack attempts, while Latvia converted 21 of 55 attack attempts. The favorites also notches seven blocks in the match, including six by Cerutti.

Plavins converted eight of 22 attack attempts for Latvia, while Smedins converted 13 of 33.

The first set was close until Brazil broke away halfway through, while the second set was nail-biting down the stretch. Latvia came back from a 15-10 deficit in the second set to tie it at 20-20, but Brazil won the next two points to close it out. 

Germany def. Netherlands, 2-0

Germany's Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann were ranked No. 3 in Olympics beach volleyball by FIVB heading into London, and the duo didn't disappoint on Tuesday, dispatching the Netherlands' Reinder Nummerdor and Richard Schuil, two sets to nil (21-14, 21-16).  

The first set saw Brink and Reckermann get off to a 11-5 start before cruising, 21-14. The Dutch looked thoroughly outclassed throughout as the Germans spread the lead. 

The second set was more of the same, as Germany began with an eight-three run, ultimately holding off the Netherlands, 21-16.  

Brink and Reckermann each had two aces in the match, with Reckermann also notching six blocks.

Women's Semifinals

USA def. China, 2-0

Defending Olympic champions Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh of the U.S. were favored over China's duo of Xue Chen and Zhang Xi by Bovada's odds, but FIVB actually had the Americans ranked below the Chinese heading into the Olympics.

The match proved to be as riveting as advertised. The U.S. won two sets to nil, but both sets were very close (22-20, 22-20).

At one point in the first set, China actually had a 13-7 advantage and was threatening to pull away from the Americans, but May-Treanor and Walsh dug down deep, tying the set 17-17 before ultimately capturing it.

In the second set, it was the U.S. which raced off to a lead (12-8), but China which stormed back to a 20-19 advantage, one point away from capturing the second set.

But the defending champions would not be denied, winning the next three points to take the match.

Walsh had three aces in the match, while both Chen and Xi failed to notch an ace. The U.S. also had five blocks. 

USA def. Brazil, 2-1

In a fantastic thriller, USA's underdogs, Jen Kessy and April Ross, came from behind to defeat Brazil's world No. 1 duo of Larissa and Juliana on Tuesday, two sets to one (15-21, 21-19, 15-12).

Brazil was up 13-10 in the second set when the USA went on a seven-two run that forced the Brazilians to call a timeout. The USA then closed out the set.

The third set was neck and neck before the Americans began pulling away down the stretch. The match ended when Juliana was unable to dig out Kessy's attack. 

This was the Kessy and Ross's second big win against Larissa and Juliana. They beat the top Brazilian duo in the 2009 FIVA Volleyball World Championship, as well.

Ross and Kessy converted 18 and 20 attack attempts, respectively, in the high-octane match. Ross added two aces.

It sets up an all-American final between Kessy/Ross and May-Treanor/Walsh.

To say U.S. women's beach volleyball has dominated in the 2012 Summer Games would be an understatement.

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