Kerri Walsh Jennings

Kerri Lee Walsh Jennings (born August 15, 1978) is an American professional beach volleyball player, three-time Olympic gold medalist, and a one-time Olympic bronze medalist.

She led her school's teams to three state championships in volleyball, in 1993, 1994 and 1995.

She also led her school's basketball team to a state championship in 1995.

Walsh was also the #1 volleyball athlete recruit in the nation her senior year (1995.) While in high school she competed against her future beach doubles partner, Misty May-Treanor.

Walsh attended Stanford University on a volleyball scholarship.

While there she was selected as a first-team All-American four years in a row, becoming only the second player in the history of collegiate volleyball to be chosen first team all four years of their collegiate careers.

While at Stanford her school's volleyball team won over 90% of its matches, posting a 122–11 overall record.

She was named Gatorade National High School Volleyball Player of the Year in 1996, the first time the award was given.

The Cardinal won four Pac-10 titles and three times reached the NCAA Final Four, winning the title in 1996 and 1997, and falling to Penn State in the championship game in her senior year in 1999.

She was selected as the MVP of the Final Four in 1996, and was co-National Player of the Year in 1999.

She was also the first player in PAC-10 history to record over 1,500 kills (1,553), 1,200 digs (1,285) and 500 blocks (502).

Walsh is considered to be one of the best all-around players in collegiate volleyball history.

She graduated from Stanford in 2001 with a B.A. in American studies.

Walsh-Jennings plays professional beach volleyball on the U.S. AVP Tour and internationally on the FIVB World Tour.

For most of her career she played with partner Misty May-Treanor, forming the most successful beach pairings in AVP history.

May and Walsh formed a partnership on the beach circuit in 2001, finishing the season with the number five ranking in the world.

In 2002 the team reached the number one ranking.

They also won the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

They continued their dominance in 2003, winning all eight tournaments they entered and a then-record 90 straight matches, including the world championships where they upset defending world champions Brazil in the final.

Walsh Jennings and teammate Misty May-Treanor were the gold medalists in beach volleyball at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.

The pair set various records throughout their partnership, including a win streak of 112 consecutive matches (19 consecutive tournament titles) in 20072008, breaking their own previous record of 89 consecutive match wins.

They have been called "the greatest beach volleyball team of all time."

Walsh was born in Santa Clara, California, the daughter of Margery Lee (née Formico, Italian American ) and Timothy Joseph Walsh.

Walsh grew up in Scotts Valley, 6 mi north of Santa Cruz.

She attended grade school there until the end of her middle school years.

Before she started high school, her family moved to San Jose.

Walsh attended Archbishop Mitty High School, competing on the volleyball and basketball teams.

In 2008 May-Treanor and Walsh extended a winning streak to 112 matches before losing to Olympic teammates Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh in the AVP Crocs Cup Shootout in Ohio.

To that point the pair had won 19 straight titles.

The win gave Walsh the 113th title of her career, breaking the old mark set by May-Treanor.

Walsh and Ross won 21–14, 17–21, 15–12 over the Brazilian pair of Taiana Lima and Talita Da Rocha Antunes.

It was the Americans' third title in five events since joining forces.

She played alongside partner April Ross at the Long Beach, California Grand Slam, which is part of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour.

The pair won all 3 matches, against Carolina Horta Maximo|Carol/Ana Patricia Silva Ramos|Ana Patrícia Brazil (21 - 17, 21 - 19), Humana-Paredes/Pischke Canada (21 - 16, 21 - 17), and Maria Antonelli/Lili Brazil (21 - 19, 18 - 21, 15 - 13).

Following the retirement of partner Misty May-Treanor in 2012, Walsh teamed with April Ross.

She went on to break the career record for most wins by a female professional volleyball player when she won the FIVB Grand Slam in Xiamen, China.

She is the beach volleyball leader in career victories as of 2016 having won 135 international and domestic tournaments.

In semi final action (August 27, 2016) Walsh Jennings and Ross played against Chantal Laboureur/Julia Sude of Germany and won in straight sets (21 - 17, 21 - 16).

In the finals Walsh Jennings/Ross defeated Spain's Liliana Fernández Steiner and Elsa Baquerizo McMillan in straight sets (21–16, 21–16) to win the gold medal.

Competing at the World Tour Finals in Toronto, playing in Pool A they are in 1st with a 2-0 and advance to quarter finals.