London Olympics: May-Treanor, Walsh win beach volleyball match

LONDON -- The referees were bundled up for a brisk winter night.

Aussies Nat Cook and Tamsin Hinchley went with the long sleeves and tights for their women’s beach volleyball match. It is winter Down Under.

But these are the Summer Olympics in London. And the beach volleyball venue, the Horse Guards Parade Grounds, happened to be hot and muggy just three days ago.

Californians and two-time defending gold medalists Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings -- going with the long sleeves -- shrugged off the chilly conditions and a start time of 11 p.m. in London to stop a spirited challenge, winning the first-round match, 21-18, 21-19.

(And match point to decide the issue should become a Sports Center highlight.)

They will next play a team from the Czech Republic -- Kristyna Kolocova and Marketa Slukova -- on Monday. The match is another late-night affair, starting at 11 p.m.

Kolocova, by the way, has something of an impish sense of humor. On her website, she answers several questions, including: What is worse for you, airplane turbulence or a tiebreak with 13-13 on the scoreboard?

“Neither one nor the other, but if I had to choose, then 13-13 on the scoreboard gives you much higher chances of survival :-)” she said.

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