April's Beach Volleyball Log

Brazilians Talita and Renata win beach volleyball bronze

In the bronze-medal match, Talita and Renata outlasted 18th-seeded Vasso Karadassiou and Vassiliki Arvaniti of Greece, 21-15, 17-21, 16-14, in 61 minutes to split the $16,000 third-place prize. The Greeks earned $12,000 for their first Swatch semifinal appearance this season. (WCSN, WCSN.com)

Ana Paula Connelly, Brazil women's beach volleyball player gives up holidays for Beijing

From the Guardian.co.uk

Brazil Women’s Beach Volleyball-Ana Paula ditches holiday for Olympics

They now have one day to get to know each other before taking to the Olympic sand on Saturday.

"I was in shock ... I said 'No, no, I'm not going' because they all knew I was going to LA," the three-time Olympian said.

"Then it was just chaos to get everything ready. I had five hours before my flight, my son was crying his lungs out saying 'Don't go, Mummy'."

"I've never played with her but I know her skills and everything because we play together so often so I don't think it'll be hard to click with her. I'm here to help her," she said.

"Like in any army, sometimes there is somebody who needs to be sent home and another soldier has to be ready for combat."

"Your volleyball season is about to start and I know you want to learn the secrets of how the pros play like they do.

Strengthen and improve your volleyball skills while playing for your high school and club team, now!

Learn early, what indoor and beach volleyball Olympians and professionals know about:

1. The importance of gaining muscle strength for injury prevention, gaining speed and increasing your vertical jump while training for volleyball,

2. Volleyball nutrition and

3. Mental conditioning and gaining confidence in yourself and your game, on and off the court."

Sign up for the FREE Volleyball Voices Newsletter Be the first person on your team to get the inside track on how to stay off the bench and gain more playing time by improving your volleyball skills, fast! Just fill out that box in the upper right hand corner to receive today's volleyball news you can use.

April Chapple is a columnist for USA Volleyball, the American Volleyball Coaches Association Coaching Volleyball magazine, a contributor to Active,.com/volleyball, and has authored numerous playing and coaching volleyball articles. Look for her upcoming ebook "How to Stop Serving Like a Wimp". She can be reached at april@volleyballvoices.com.