Americans Win Beach Volleyball Title

Americans Jen Boss and April Ross won their first gold medal on the professional beach volleyball tour this weekend by defeating fellow Americans Nicole Branagh and Tyra Turner in the championship match of the 2008 SWATCH FIVB World Tour Phuket Thailand Open at the Karon Beach.

Boss and Ross, who did not lose a single match during the tournament, came from behind to defeat Branagh and Turner, 18-21 21-14 15-11. They will share the first-prize money of $32,000 and earn 600 ranking points.

Last weekend, the team finished second in Dubai after losing to Branagh and Kerri Walsh (Saratoga, Calif.) in the final.

"It will always be tough whenever we have to play teams from the same country. It's also difficult to beat them twice in the tournament. However, as we are playing better and better each game, we just played consistently in the final. It's good to win here," Ross told the FIVB.

"We were not nervous playing the first set, which we lost, but it was just because we tried hard to win. We regained our composure and recovered fast in the second set. As our confidence was boosted, we had no problem in the third set. It's really great to win eventually this season," Boss added.