Feb. 18, 2004

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - In the opening match of the Country vs. Country Challenge in Brazil, former Pepperdine standout Dain Blanton and partner Jeff Nygaard broke a two-year American drought to beat the world champion pair of Ricardo Costa Santos and Emanuel Rego from Brazil, 2-1 (22-20, 20-22, 15-13), on Sunday on the lovely sands of Ipanema Beach.

Playing in front of a packed, passionate and noisy local crowd, the Americans showed right from the opening whistle that they were not going to aid the Brazilian party and proceeded to claim the honors in this annual event.

In 2002 Brazil's Ricardo and Jose Loiola beat Americans Kevin Wong and Stein Metzger and last year Brazil won again when Guto and Jorge beat Dax Holdren and Eric Fonoimoana.

"We came prepared to change the history of the Challenges of the Beach," said Blanton, who with Fonoimoana won the gold medal at the Sydney Olympics. "We played a very aggressive game and fought for each point. We know that whenever we face them the game will be very good. At the French Grand Slam in Marseille (last year) they defeated us, 2-1, in the semifinals. Now it was our turn."

Just like the Brazilian pair, the Americans had barely been together three weeks so far this year. With Nygaard recuperating from a back injury, Blanton invited Switzerland's Sacha Heyer to compete in two tournaments with him in Australia and New Zealand, and the duo collected a title and a runner's up medal.

But for Nygaard, a former Olympic indoor volleyball player (1996 and 2000), both teams entered Sunday's contest on the same terms.

"Certainly, the two teams will be better prepared in a month, but, today we held our nerve and kept our positive attitude and concentration," he said.

Brazilian backcourt star Emanuel complained of a lack of rhythm on his side but said the great game of the Americans was to blame.

"I prepared myself mentally for the game and it was one we definitely didn't want to lose, but in the third set, our physical stamina was lacking," Emanuel admitted. "By that stage, we were making so many errors, while the Americans were faultless. They played very well and they deserved the victory."

The Country vs. Country Challenge continues this weekend when defending world champions Misty May and Kerri Walsh of the United States play Brazil's Ana Paula Connelly and Vanilda dos Santos Leão in women's action.

Story courtesy of FIVB and USA Volleyball; Photo compliments of FIVB and USA Volleyball