Beach volleyball stars survive lost set

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LONDON, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh-Jennings lost the first set of their Olympic career Wednesday before completing beach volleyball group play unbeaten.

The American team has won the last two Olympic titles and did not lose a set while doing so.

May-Treanor and Walsh-Jennings had to rally from 3 points down in the second set of their match Monday, but in Wednesday's contest they suffered a 21-17 setback to start their matchup with sisters Stefanie and Doris Schwaiger of Austria.

The United States duo, already assured of a spot in the knockout round, then blitzed the Austrian team 21-8 in the second. The third and final set of a beach volleyball match is played to just 15 points and the Americans got to that total in only 12 minutes while winning 15-10.

May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings thus finished 3-0 in Group C.

Sixteen teams will begin the knockout round Friday, with the quarterfinals set for Sunday.