U.S. beach volleyball masters Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers started fast and kept rolling against the Czech team of Premysl Kubala and Peter Benes, winning the first set 21–13 and the second 21–15. The Czechs played well and never quit; they were simply overpowered by the Americans
After struggling in their last match, Dalhausser and Rogers were determined to play more technically and decisively: reading the defense more quickly, and keeping the sets back from the net for Dalhausser, and for Rogers, jumping more and hitting the spikes with authority.
The changes paid off immediately. Rogers missed several cut shots in his last match; this time he swung straight and hard for the kill. Because Dalhausser is one of the game’s hardest hitters, servers avoid him. Rogers has to receive and spike on most serves.
When Rogers is leaping high and hitting hard, opponents are handcuffed; whichever way they go, they face disaster. Further, when Rogers has his power working, he can make use of the rest of his wide range of shots, because the defense expects the power.
On top of that, Dalhausser is one of the best blockers, and Rogers the best diggers. When this pair has its game working, they are hard to beat. The pair won their group, and will go on to elimination play knowing that they have improved with each match.
The 38-year-old Rogers has said this will be his final Olympics; he would love to go out with a successful defense of the pair’s 2008 Beijing gold medal.
