The impressive collection of four gold medals captured in Klagenfurt has risen as Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh grabbed another Grand Slam title on the Austrian sand. Brazilian pairs finished outside the podium.
Championship day for women in Klagenfurt dawned early Saturday morning with the eager fans already filling the stadium to participate in and enjoy brilliant semifinal matches that first saw China’s Xue/Zhang come from behind in both sets to defeat Brazil’s Antonelli/Antunes, 21-16, 28-26 in 43 minutes. With the win, Xue/Zhang avenged last Saturday’s three-set bronze medal match loss to Antonelli/Antunes Stare Jablonki, Poland and increased their all-time FIVB career record against the Brazilians to 11-5.
In the other semifinal, which marked the 25th time in the 20-year history of the women’s FIVB Swatch World Tour that four countries were represented in the semifinals and the fifth time this season, USA’s May-Treanor/Walsh switched tactics after losing the first set and overcame Netherland’s Keizer/Van Iersel, 18-21, 21-14 and 15-12 in 45 minutes to advance to the 49th gold medal match of their illustrious career together.
In the final match two-time Olympic champions May-Treanor/Walsh remind us who are the queens of Klagenfurt after amazing victory over Xue/Zhang in two sets (21:14, 26:24) while Keizer/Van Iersel won their second bronze medal overall beating Brazilians in 42 minutes.
Semifinal's results
Xue/Zhang CHN [2] - Antonelli/Antunes BRA [3] 2:0
(21:16, 28:26)
May-Treanor/Walsh USA [4] - Keizer/Van Iersel NED [8] 2:1
(18:21, 21:14, 15:12)
Bronze medal match
Antonelli/Antunes BRA [3] - Keizer/Van Iersel NED [8] 0:2
(18:21, 22:24)
Final match
Xue/Zhang Xi CHN [2] - May-Treanor/Walsh USA [4] 0:2
(14:21, 24:26)
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