Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross are back on track. After losing a set to the Swiss team in their final match of pool play, the American team routed the Italians in the Round of 16 on Friday, winning in straight sets 21-10, 21-16.
2016 Olympic beach volleyball results: Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross beat Italians to advance to quarterfinals
The Americans remain undefeated on the Rio sand.
Marta Menegatti and Laura Giombini were no match for the dominant American team. Walsh and Ross jumped out early, dominating the first set before the Italians put up a valiant fight in the second. Italy stayed even for a while, but the Americans pulled away down the stretch after the score was knotted at 10.
Walsh Jennings is fighting for her fourth Olympic gold while Ross is looking for her first. Walsh Jennings won three consecutive golds with Misty May-Treanor, but May-Treanor retired after the London Olympics. Walsh Jennings and Ross are seeded third, but have looked great through the first week of the tournament.
Beach volleyball action continues on Saturday with more Round of 16 action.
Scores from the Round of 16
USA (K. Walsh Jennings and A Ross) def. Italy (M. Menegatti and L. Giombini), 2-0
Brazil (A Bednarczuk and B. Seixas) def. China (F Wang and Y. Yue), 2-0
Brazil (L. França and T. Antunes) def. Germany (K Borger and B Büthe), 2-0
Russia (E Ukolova and E. Khomyakova) def. Spain (E Baquerizo and L. Fernández), 2-0
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