Kristiansand, Norway, August 13, 2010 - The ABC’s of international women’s Beach Volleyball will be competing for the SWATCH FIVB World Tour medals this week at the US$380,000 Otera Open as American, Brazilian and Chinese pairs captured quarter-final matches here Friday in the southern Norwegian resort city.

Entering this week’s 11th of 15 women’s events on the 2010 SWATCH FIVB World Tour calendar, the three countries have collected 204 of the 212 gold medals distributed on the international circuit since the first event in 1992 with the three nations combining to claim 86.5 percent of the podium placements (551 of the 637 medals awarded).

Headlining Saturday’s “final four” participants will be top-seeded Juliana Felisberta Silva/Larissa Franca of Brazil and third-seeded Chen Xue/Xi Zhang of China as both pairs captured quarter-final matches in the winner’s bracket to set up a possible gold medal rematch of last week’s Grand Slam finale in Stare Jablonki, Poland. Juliana and Larissa defeated the Chinese for the Polish title 14-21, 25-23 and 16-14 in 55 minutes.

But first, the two teams must win opening semi-final matches as Juliana and Larissa face compatriots and the eighth-seeded Salgado sisters (Carolina and Maria Clara) in an opening "final four” meeting with Xue and Zhang being challenged by fifth-seeded Jen Kessy and April Ross of the United States.

Juliana and Larissa have already defeated the Salgados and the Americans this week to improve their SWATCH FIVB World Tour winning streak to 33-straight victories. The top-ranked Brazilians will be looking for their seventh international title in 2010 as two wins Saturday for Juliana and Larissa would secure their 36th world tour gold medal to set a record for team tournament titles breaking the previous mark of 35 established in 2008 by Americans Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.

After posting a 21-15 and 21-13 victory over the Salgados Thursday afternoon in 36 minutes, Juliana and Larissa advanced to their 69th SWATCH FIVB World Tour “final four” in 82 events with a 21-19 and 21-17 win in 43 minutes over Kessy and Ross Friday afternoon. The 2007 Otera Open champions, Juliana and Larissa have now won 13 of 17 matches with the Americans on the international circuit and have an 8-1 mark against the Salgados.

Xue and Zhang have only played two countries in the fourth annual Otera Open with their last two of four wins over pairs from the Czech Republic, including a 21-17and 21-11 victory in 32 minutes over seventh-seeded Lenka Hajeckova and Hana Klapalova Friday afternoon. On Thursday, the Chinese defeated sixth-seeded Kristyna Kolocova and Marketa Slukova of the Czech Republic 21-14 and 21-16 in 33 minutes.

Kessy and Ross benefited from a forfeit win over 24th-seeded Rieke Brink-Abeler and Angelina Grun of Germany to earn a SWATCH FIVB World Tour “final four” berth for a 22nd-time in 43 international starts together. The Americans had secured semi-final berths in the first five SWATCH stops this season before finishing ninth, ninth, fifth, fifth and 25th in their last five tournaments.

Due to a right knee injury for Brink-Abeler, the Germans withdrew from the competition after posting their best-ever placement on the SWATCH FIVB World Tour. Brink-Abeler and Grun had to win two qualifying matches Tuesday to earn an Otera Open Main Draw spot where the Germans won five of six matches before forfeiting to Kessy and Ross.

After losing to Juliana and Larissa Thursday, the Salgados rebounded with three wins Friday starting with a 21-18 and 21-16 victory in 42 minutes over 14th-seeded Marie-Andree Lessard/Annie Martin of Canada. The Brazilians then posted victories over 23rd-seeded Liesbeth Mouha/Liesbet Van Breedam Belgium (22-20, 21-15, 38 minutes) and Hajeckova/Hana Klapalova (21-17, 21-15, 35).

The Salgados will now be playing in their 10th SWATCH FIVB World Tour semi-final in 83 events. Carolina and Maria Clara captured a bronze medal in the first 2010 FIVB event in Brazil and have not placed higher than fifth since the opener. The sisters placed fourth in the 2008 Otera Open.

In addition to the women’s semi-final and medal matches Saturday, the Otera Open will stage a 10-match men’s schedule featuring the quarter-finals of the winner’s bracket play along with the last three elimination rounds. The men’s “final four” matches will be played Sunday as the winning teams in each gender’s competition will share the $30,000 first-place prizes.