BEIJING – It is redundant to call anything 6-foot-9 Phil Dalhausser puts down on a beach volleyball court a “big block.”
Behind Dalhausser's power and partner Todd Rogers' experience and opportunistic play, the American duo defeated Brazil's Marcio Araujo and Fabo Magalhaes 23-21, 17-21, 15-4 for the gold medal last night (San Diego time) at Chaoyank Park Beach Volleyball Ground.
First-time Olympians, Rogers, 34, and Dalhausser, 28, jumped to an 11-2 lead in the third and decisive set with their complementary play – Dalhausser with the power block, Rogers with the perfectly placed touch shots. The Brazilians seemed rattled, committing unforced errors as the Americans ran away with the third set, Dalhausser knocking over Rogers with a ferocious chest bump on match point.
A latecomer to the game, Dalhausser teamed up with Rogers for their first international match in 2005, with Dalhausser quicking learning the finer points from his new partner. They became known as “The Thin Beast” (Dalhausser) and the “The Professor” (Rogers), one of the top teams in the world, with three straight World Cup gold medals coming into the 2008 Games.
With Rogers' and Dalhausser's gold, U.S. teams have now won five gold medals, two silvers and a bronze in four Summer Games since the sport made its Olympic debut.
The American pair caught a break by losing its first match to 23rd-seeded Latvia, avoiding a match with the tough Brazilians or any team seeded higher than eighth before the finals.
The Latvian loss did, however, end the Americans[' 21-match international win streak, one short of a nine-year-old beach volleyball record. But Rogers and Dalhausser won every match en route to the final.
Araujo and Magalhaes also lost one match before the gold medal showdown.
The Americans came into the tournament as the second seed, but only because the host team is given the top seed if it finishes in the top six of Olympic qualifying. The U.S. team entered the finals off an impressive 21-11, 21-13 semifinal victory over 15th-seeded Renato “Geor” Gomes and Jorge “Gia” Terceiro of Georgia.
