With the American men assured a bronze medal at the US$350,000 Adelaide Australia Open, SWATCH-FIVB World Champions Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers avenged one of their two setbacks in the international Beach Volleyball competition by defeating Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal here Sunday for a spot on the Glenelg Beach podium.
With their 21-18 and 14-21 and 15-11 win over 18th-seeded Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal in 50 minutes, the second-seeded Dalhausser and Rogers split the $14,000 third-place prize in the season opening event on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour calendar that features the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in August. Gibb and Rosenthal shared $10,500 for their fourth-place finish.
“We are disappointed, but not discouraged, said Rogers after his team avenged a 24-22 and 21-18 setback to Gibb and Rosenthal in the third-round of the winner’s bracket on the Moseley Square courts Thursday. “We had an excellent opportunity to be in the finals, but let a 9-6 edge in the third set to the Brazilians slip away. The important fact is that we secured another podium finish to help in our bid for the Olympics.”
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