BERLIN -- Defending champions Misty May and Kerri Walsh maintained their perfect record after players staged a brief
boycott at the Beach Volleyball World Championship on Thursday.
The walkout lasted 1 hour, 45 minutes -- affecting a dozen matches -- while players negotiated with International Volleyball Federation president Ruben Acosta.
After play resumed, May and Walsh beat hosts Stephanie Pohl and Okka Rau 21-19, 21-17 for their fourth straight win at the championship. The American pair have not lost an international match since July 2003, aside from two forfeits last year when May had an abdominal injury.
"Okka and Stephanie always play us tough ... and keep us on our toes," Walsh said.
The walkout by players came after Acosta refused to accept their demands during a Wednesday night meeting attended by a handful of competitors, including Rau.
Players took part in matches Thursday morning before starting
their boycott at noon.
"I knew what I was doing when I stayed up late last night and
it was important for the sport's future so it was worth the
price," Rau said. "I can't say that didn't affect my play
today."
Rau and Pohl were later eliminated from the tournament after losing 21-17, 21-14 to second-seeded Brazilians Shelda Bede and
Adriana Behar.
Acosta ended up accepting amendments to the existing contract,
including the addition of a bonus pool award open to all players.
Currently, teams must take part in at least eight World Tour events
to earn bonus money. This condition will be dropped next year,
providing teams play at the worlds and a majority of Grand Slam
events.
Men's and women's player commissions will be established.
Players wanted an independent association but agreed to a
commission that will remain part of the sport's ruling body.
Boycott threats had overshadowed the championship all week. On
Monday, the women threatened to boycott the championship because of
perceived favoritism toward U.S. teams, which were admitted late to
the championship and had different contracts.
"It was said the FIVB had given different benefits to American
players. This is a lie," Acosta said.
In other action, 15th-seeded Rebekka Kadijk and Merel Mooren of
the Netherlands eliminated the fourth-seeded Brazilians Leila
Barros and Ana Paula Connelly 21-12, 21-19 in a losers bracket
match, while Roman Arkaev and Dmitri Barsouk of Russia ousted
third-seeded Franco Neto and Tande Ramos of Brazil 26-24, 26-24.