Two-time gold medalists Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor beat the Netherlands in straight sets on Saturday night to advance to the quarterfinals of the Olympic beach volleyball tournament.
The Americans beat Marleen van Iersel and Sanne Keizer 21-13, 21-12.
Walsh Jennings and May-Treanor won gold medals in Athens and Beijing without losing a set. That streak was snapped on Wednesday in the final of the round-robin.
In all, the two-time defending champions have won 18 consecutive Olympic matches.
Also Saturday, Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal beat Russia in straight sets to keep alive the U.S. hopes of a second consecutive men's gold. Defending Olympic champions Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser were eliminated in the round of 16 by Italy.
Earlier Saturday, reigning world champions Emanuel and Alison beat Germany to advance to the quarterfinals. The top-seeded Brazilians beat Jonathan Erdmann and Kay Matysik 21-16, 21-14.
Beijing bronze medalists Xue Chen and Zhang Xi of China beat Russians Ekaterina Khomyakova and Evgeniya Ukolova 21-12, 21-11.
U.S. & World
In other men's matches Saturday, Reinder Nummerdor and Rich Schuil of the Netherlands beat Patrick Heuscher and Jefferson Bellaguarda of Switzerland 22-20, 21-15. Germany's Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann beat Aleksandrs Samoilovs and Ruslans Sorokins of Latvia, 21-12, 21-17.
Defending bronze medalists Xue Chen and Zhang Xi of China beat Russians Ekaterina Khomyakova and Evgeniya Ukolova 21-12, 21-11. Marta Menegatti and Greta Cicolari of Italy defeated Liliana Fernandez Steiner and Elsa Baquerizo McMillan of Spain 21-15, 21-15, and Czech team Marketa Slukova and Kristyna Kolocova beat the No. 2 Brazilian team of Maria Antonelli and Talita Rocha 21-16, 20-22, 15-9.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
