Semi-sweep: Misty, Kerri to play for gold
-Treanor and Kerri Walsh advanced to the beach volleyball final on Tuesday, beating Brazil in straight sets to earn the chance to repeat their Athens victory.
Just as she did four years ago, May-Treanor also sprinkled some of her mom's ashes on the sand before the semifinal, saving another half-portion for a similar ceremony at the gold medal game.
"You can't leave home without her," May-Treanor said, tapping the plastic film canister she used to carry Barbara May's remains. "But she'll stay here."
The Americans beat Renata Ribeiro and Talita Antunes 21-12, 21-14 for their 107th consecutive victory and the guarantee of at least a silver medal. The United States has now reached the podium in all four Olympic tournaments since beach volleyball was added to the games in 1996.
"We're not done. We are absolutely not done," Walsh said. "We came here to win."
Walsh and May-Treanor will play top-seeded Tian Jia and Wang Jie of China in the gold-medal match. Tian and Wang defeated their compatriots Xue Chen and Zhang Xi in Tuesday's second semifinal match. Playing in the longest women's beach volleyball match of the Beijing Games, Tian and Wang defeated Xue and Zhang 22-24, 29-27, 15-8.
"We know, definitely, the crowd will be with us," May-Treanor joked about playing in front of Tian and Wang's home crowd in the final.
Xue and Zhang will play Talita and Renata for third place.
"I think their destiny is the bronze," May-Treanor said, predicting a Brazilian victory. "I told them, 'I'm going to see you up on the podium,' and we'll be sitting side-by-side again."
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