Kessy and Ross Advance to Semifinals

The Southern California duo won a close match in two sets 25-23, 21-18.

By Steven Covelman

| Sunday, Aug 5, 2012 | Updated 4:50 PM PDT

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Jennifer Kessy blocks Kristyna Kolocova of Czech Republic looks dejected during the Women's Beach Volleyball Quarter Finals.

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Southern Californians Jennifer Kessy and April Ross have advanced to the beach volleyball semifinals after a close 25-23, 21-18 victory over the Czech Republic’s Kristyna Kolocova and Marketa Slukova Sunday.

In the first set, both duos continuously swapped leads. Kessy and Ross were only able to pull away after stringing together two consecutive points on a Slukova miss and a Kessy serve.

The second set was not easy either. After Kessy and Ross appeared to pull away with a 16-9 lead, Kolocova and Slukova mounted a comeback, getting within three points of tying.

Next up for Kessy and Ross is the Brazilian team of Juliana Silva and Larissa Franca.

The Brazilian duo is the top ranked team in the field and is a favorite to win gold.

Earlier Sunday, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings advanced to the semifinals, setting up a potential all-American beach volleyball final should both duos win on Tuesday.