BEACH VOLLEYBALL: A clinical performance from a star-studded USA team has seen Australia’s Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Nikki Laird suffer a 21-14, 20-12 Pool C defeat to open their maiden Olympic campaign.
The Americans, headed by one of the best players in the game’s history in Kerri Walsh Jennings, had their trademark power game on show throughout the night.
Ably supported by London 2012 silver medallist April Ross, Walsh Jennings was dominant in the air, making several blocks and booming spikes in what was an entertaining match.
“We missed an opportunity today,” Laird said after the match.
“They are a very strong team but at our best we match up well to them.
“We’ve felt it now – we’ve [experienced the] atmosphere, now we’ve just got to find a way to bring a much better game the next time we step onto the court.”
Artacho del Solar and Laird combined well in what was a promising Olympic debut, trading blows with their opponents early in front of a big crowd that was clearly unperturbed by the late match scheduling.
In fact, it was a scoreline that didn’t accurately reflect the great teamwork on display from the young Sydneysiders.
The Australians were aggressive on serve – landing four aces – and were also strong with their serve reception. However, they were unable to string together a run to challenge for first-set ascendancy.
While the second set score was similar to the first, Artacho del Solar and Laird impressed with some deft touches and power hitting of their own.
Playing at the unfamiliar time of midnight – pushed out to 12.30am due to a long-running 3-setter between China and Switzerland – the Aussie pair could have easily made excuses.
Instead, they relished the chance to play in front of a primetime US audience.
“We’ve never [played at midnight] before but I don’t think they have either, so it evens out the playing field,” Laird said.
“It’s mind over matter – when we stepped out on the court it didn’t feel like it was in the middle of the night… it feels pretty similar to just a normal night match.
“It’s exciting – the fact the whole thing was primetime and a sold out game – it was all exciting and we used it as positive energy.”
The young Australians will look to their second pool match, against Switzerland, to notch their first win at the Games.
Doug MacDougall
olympics.com.au
