Women’s beach volleyball: May, McPeak move on, barely

SYDNEY, Australia - Newport Harbor High grad Misty May, along with

playing partner Holly McPeak nearly went under, Down Under at the 2000

Olympics women’s beach volleyball competition.

The top-seeded Americans were pushed to the limits in their match with

Lucilla Perrotta and Daniela Gattelli of Italy before winning the match,

15-13, Friday in Sydney.

Next up for May and McPeak will be the eighth seeds Sandra Pires and

Adriana Samuel of Brazil in the quarterfinals.

The Americans jumped out to leads of, 2-0, 8-5 and 12-7 before the

Italians clawed their way back to 13-11.

A McPeak ace stretched the lead to, 14-11, but the Italian duo refused

to go away.

A Perrotta ace and a desperate, but fortunate return cut May and

McPeak’s lead to, 14-13.

Finally, on the seventh match point, May slammed down a winner, ending

the match.