Kerri Walsh Takes Home Another Gold!

KT Tape athlete and beach volleyball powerhouse Kerri Walsh is back, and better than ever!  The two-time Olympic Gold medalist won her 39th career SWATCH FIVB World Tour gold medal with partner Nicole Branagh, taking home the $190,000 purse at the Phuket Thailand Open powered by PTT.  Read the article by B.J. Hoeptner Evans from the USA Volleyball website: The fourth-seeded Walsh (San Jose, Calif.) and Branagh (Orinda, Calif.), who fought their way through the consolation bracket after a second-round loss, finished the 2010 international season by defeating 16th-seeded Marta Menegatti and Valeria Rosso of Italy, 21-23, 21-14, 15-11 in 1 hour, 3 minutes.   Walsh’s 39th FIVB title give her sole possession of the all-time lead in wins, having been tied with long-time partner Misty May-Treanor (Santa Monica, Calif.) with 38 since the end of the 2008 season, the last time Walsh competed internationally before last week.   This week, Walsh partnered with Branagh for the third time ever, and two of their events have produced wins, having also won in Dubai in 2008. She missed the entire 2009 season and all but two events this year due to giving birth to boys in May 2009 and 2010.   “It feels like a new world to me because all that I have accomplished is so far behind me,” Walsh said. “This win is so special to me; it’s my first win as a mother of two. I would feel better about it if I had played better in the last match. I’m bummed I let the nerves get to me. I’ve played some big matches in big settings, but today I was nervous."   The U.S. team became just the fourth women’s team win a SWATCH FIVB World Tour gold medal after winning five elimination matches. They lost in the second round to Elsa Baquerizo and Liliana Fernandez Steiner of Spain, but then swept six-straight opponents before the title match.   Way to go, Kerri!  You never stop impressing us! For more on Kerri Walsh visit her website here.