Beijing Olympic Games

U.S. just survives in beach volleyball

By Jane Barrett

BEIJING (Reuters) - Lucky losers Germany ended China’s dream of a medal at the Olympic men’s beach volleyball on Saturday, while U.S. favorites Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser narrowly averted being toppled by Switzerland.

Before the Games, Rogers and Dalhausser were widely expected to win gold but having lost their first match to lowly Latvia and being taken to the line by the Swiss, the cracks are beginning to show.

Martin Laciga and Jan Schnider shattered Dalhausser’s fearsome block and ran Rogers ragged around the sand to lead at 16-21, 23-21, 6-0. Then a couple of points went the Americans’ way and suddenly the world champions had match point.

“We were down but we weren’t out,” said Dalhausser.

Laciga slammed his hat, his water bottle and anything else he could find into the sand in frustration.

“They just didn’t stop believing they could win. I saw it on their faces. I was hoping they’d get desperate but no,” the three-time Olympian said.

The U.S. team will meet Germany in the quarter-finals.

Germany had a dismal time in the pool round and only got through to the last 16 in the “lucky loser” play-offs.

But they found a new level to batter through China’s towering presence at the net and triumph in what Eric Koreng called “by far the best win in our career.”

“They totally disturbed our rhythm. We were dumbfounded,” said Wu Penggen, who with 2.02-metre Xu “Tiny” Linyin, had been one of the strongest-looking teams in the pool rounds and was widely tipped as a medal winner.

Georgia, represented by two Brazilians who have taken dual citizenship, kept their Olympic dream alive by chasing down every point under the hot midday sun.

They finally beat Austria 2-1 before collapsing face down on the sand in relief at getting to the quarters.

They will play former indoor volleyball Olympians Reinder Nummerdor and Richard Schuil, who knocked out Australia 2-0.

(Editing by Alex Richardson)