Misty’s and Kerri’s road to Olympic gold

American teammates Kerri Walsh, right, and Misty May-Treanor begin celebrating their victory in the women’s beach volleyball final on Thursday in Beijing.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Misty May-Treanor stretches to make a save against China on Thursday during the women’s beach volleyball gold-medal match in Beijing.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Kerri Walsh steps aside as teammate Misty May-Treanor moves in to make a pass on Thursday during their victory in the women’s beach volleyball final in Beijing.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

China’s Tian Jia dives to make a dig against the U.S. in the women’s beach volleyball final on Thursday in Beijing.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Fans rooting for both the American and Chinese teams braves the rain as they watch the gold-medal match in women’s beach volleyball on Thursday in Beijing.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Tian Jia of China came up short when trying to make a dig against the Americans on Thursday during the women’s beach volleyball championship match in Beijing.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Misty May-Treanor reacts after scoring a point against Brazil’s Renata Ribeiro in the semifinals of the Beijing Games on Tuesday. May-Treanor and partner Kerri Walsh are trying to win their second consecutive gold medal.  (Scott Strazzante / Chicago Tribune)

Kerri Walsh, one of the most dominant net players in the history of beach volleyball, is often forced to set up teammate Misty May-Treanor as she does on this play in the semifinals Tuesday against Brazil’s Talita Rocha and Renata Ribeiro.  (Georgios Kefalas / EPA)

Kerri Walsh presents a formidable block as Brazil’s Larissa Franca looks for an angle during their pool-play match on Sunday in Beijing.  (Thomas Coex / AFP/Getty Images)

Misty May-Treanor gets off a spike before Brazil’s Ana Paula Conelly can arrive for the block during their quarterfinal match Sunday in Beijing.  (Thomas Coex / AFP/Getty Images)

Misty May-Treanor, one of the top defensive players on the beach volleyball scene, sets up teammate Kerri Walsh in their quarterfinal victory over Ana Paula Conelly and Larissa Franca of Brazil on Sunday.  (Gergios Kefalas / EPA)

Kerri Walsh turns toward teammate Misty May-Treanor to celebrate a point against Brazil in the quarterfinals of the Beijing Games on Sunday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Kerri Walsh rejects a spike by Belgium’s Liesbeth Mouha during their elimination match Friday in Beijing.  (Thomas Coex / AFP/Getty Images)

Misty May-Treanor uses her quick reactions to save a spike against Norway in preliminary round action in Beijing. May-Treanor and teammate Kerri Walsh did not lose a game in preliminary play.  (Scott Strazzante / Chicago Tribune)

Misty May-Treanor makes a pass to teammate Kerri Walsh during their preliminary round victory over Cuba on Aug. 12 in Beijing.  (Thomas Coex / AFP/Getty Images)

Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor congratulate each other after winning their first match against Japan in preliminary play on Aug. 10 in Beijing.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh flank President Bush, who visited the beach volleyball courts during their practice on Aug. 9.  (Mandel Ngan / AFP/Getty Images)

Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor, embrace after winning the AVP Long Beach Open on July 27, their 101st consecutive victory as they prepare to head to Beijing for the Summer Olympics.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Misty May-Treanor comes up with a dig during the AVP Huntington Beach Open on May 2. May-Treanor and teammate Kerri Walsh won the event.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)