Olympics Briefs | Beach volleyball: Walsh and May-Treanor roll to repeat gold

The Chinese and the wretched Beijing weather were no match for Misty May-Treanor and "Six Feet of Sunshine."

May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh won their second consecutive gold medal in beach volleyball Thursday, playing through a steady and sometimes driving rain to beat China in straight sets and extend their winning streak to 108 matches in a row.

The Americans defeated Wang Jie and Tian Jia 21-18, 21-18 to repeat their Athens victory and confirm their dominance of the sport. They did not lose a set in seven Olympic matches, playing through smog and swelter and a drenching gold-medal game that soaked their skimpy uniforms.

"The rain makes it better," Walsh shouted afterward, unable to contain the California-girl enthusiasm that earned her the nickname "Six Feet of Sunshine." "We felt like warriors out there. The pressure of playing China made it pretty intense."

Earlier, Xue Chen and Zhang Xi won China's first beach volleyball medal, beating Brazilians Talita and Renata 21-19, 21-17 for the bronze.

Walsh put an early end to China's chances to add a gold when she quick-hit May-Treanor's pass between Wang and Tian. The Americans dropped to their knees on the wet sand, hugging each other before shaking hands with the officials and running to the stands to embrace their friends and families.

They were still celebrating, wrapping themselves in U.S. flags, as organizers worked through the rain to set up the podium for the medal ceremony.

"Ever since the ball dropped in Athens, we've wanted to repeat as Olympic champions," May-Treanor said. "No one's ever done it."

U.S.-Japan rematch

After a scoreless game through eight innings, the U.S. softball team scored four runs in the ninth — three on a homer by Crystl Bustos — for a 4-1 win over Japan and a spot in the gold-medal game.

The Japanese beat Australia 4-3 after its loss to the U.S. to advance. Australia gets the bronze.

Liukin might "keep going"

Nastia Liukin is considering competing next year at the World Gymnastics Championships in London.

"I'd love to stay around," Liukin said Wednesday. "Gymnastics has meant so much to me. I'm going to be busy, but I'd love to keep going."

U.S. team coordinator Martha Karolyi told the 18-year-old Liukin, "If there is anything I can do to make you stay, let me know."

It has become rare for U.S. women gymnasts to participate in more than one Olympics.

Notes

• Brian Barden of the U.S. baseball team singled in the go-ahead run to break a scoreless tie in the 11th inning on the way to a 4-2 victory over Japan. The Americans earned the third seed in Friday's medal round, with the Japanese getting fourth.

The U.S. will play defending champion Cuba, while Japan will take on South Korea.

• The U.S. men's volleyball team beat Serbia, remaining undefeated and earning a spot in the semifinals against Russia. Brazil plays Italy in the other semifinal match on Friday.

"We're just going to keep grinding it out," U.S. coach Hugh McCutcheon said. "We can always find ways to win."

• The U.S. women's volleyball team advanced to the gold medal game, beating Cuba 25-20, 25-16, 25-17 to guarantee the Americans their best Olympic finish since a silver in 1984.

The United States will play the winner of Thursday's Brazil-China semifinal for the Olympic title on Saturday.

• The U.S. men's water polo squad knows who it will be playing in the semifinals: Serbia. The other semi will pit reigning European champion Montenegro against two-time defending Olympic gold medalist Hungary.

Serbia beat Spain to advance. Montenegro moved on by upsetting Croatia, which came in as the world's No. 1 team.

• Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers of the U.S. advanced to the gold-medal match in men's beach volleyball. They needed 41 minutes to eliminate Georgia in straight sets in the semifinals, then watched Brazil's No. 2 team beat its best duo, the Athens gold medalists.

• Michael Phelps jetted off from his Olympics of a lifetime on Wednesday night, zooming into a future that includes newfound celebrity status, oodles of money and a possible redo four years from now at the London Games.

The swimmer who won a historic eight gold medals and set seven world records in Beijing was departing on an overnight flight to London, where he'll help in the handover of the Summer Games from China to the 2012 host city during Sunday's closing ceremonies. Then he's going to steal away on a vacation.

"I'm just taking everything step by step, enjoying the ride," Phelps told The Associated Press.