Second Gold in the Season! 🇺🇸🥳 - Cruz/Brasher | Road to Gold | BPT 2026 Saquarema | Elite

They go for Thalira and she comes through the middle. Oh, she expects Tiana to get that cover and they look to each other but nope, no one on the cover. Terry again on Thalira and she's closer to the pin now. Another block for Terry Cloth. Two in a row that gets a side switch for USA 4-3. 7-0. Good serve by Brasher and that ball is gonna come as a free ball. Free ball for USA and they run a low. Yes, that's a very good cut shot over the block. Instead of passing and approaching from outside to get a bit closer on that side of the wind. Good pass and there she goes. She definitely did that but Terry Cloth is. We are underway here in the sunshine. Brazil serving. USA receiving. Nice high bump set. Lots of sand to aim for. USA with a side out start. A little hard to play. Oh, what a block. Tarrant snuffing out the candle. It'll be Vieira to start off for France and here we go. Brasher gets the first look and she goes over the top. You can hear the emphatic. Here comes a try Vieira and that one is blocked. Comes in a little soft and it makes it easy for the defender to read that it's going off speed. Oh, that's scoop of chocolate, scoop of vanilla for Kristen Cruz. They always feel it's a rarity if she ever misses and there's a nice little slap up the middle. Nice pick up by Shamrow. Cruz has got it. Oh, the little over on two bump to the corner. How about that? Almost got it on the block. Almost got it on the turnaround but ultimately it's a kill and Brasher closes the door on that one cleanly. This time Brasher gets a hand on it. Another good pickup out of the middle from Cruz. She's just got to pop this one over. Third dig and Vieira not yet. Long rally going here. Still going and finally maybe to everyone's relief that one picked up Vieira in transition and finally that game against Austria in the lucky loser round. What's the first set? 32-30 with the second 21-18 then 15-10. Annalena Brunner as a defender, Sandra Ittlinger as the blocker in their tenth tournament together. Finished ninth in the world championships, third place in the elite competition in Cape Town. On the attacks for TKN. Lovely turn from Ittlinger. Oh, lovely soft touch. Good use. Drop this one short. Oh, it gets a nice touch off the tape and into the net to Brasher. Ittlinger with the set. No, Brasher comes in with a big block. In staying shape and being able to really play in that high level. Women's quarterfinal underway. It is Brazil in yellow. It'll be United States in the black tops. A little sharp cutty is collected. Toledo almost recovers after that soft block. Nice line drive serve from Brasher. It's going to be a free ball for United States. Cruz. Nice soft touch from Toledo. Good talk. Tayana there over the shoulder. Brasher having to work hard. Tayana with another dig and a quick tap down. Wisely taken from Brasher at another extended rally. Cloth and nose became Brasher and then Cruz. Trying to go jumbo on Tayana. She does. What a shot from Cruz. They are, Carol, the best in the world right now in my opinion. Carol is very good at that. Toledo is also very good at that. Toledo is a amazing pull digger. And also because I think Kristen, since she's small, she needs... Nine serving six. And Toledo trying to go low line, but there is Brasher getting another block. 6-3 United States after taking set number one. Good left hand from Brasher sealing off that seam. We have a point for Cruz and Brasher. Fortunately for Tanya and Nina. Kristen from the right and Kristen going cutty. That is beautiful. Good step close from Kristen Cruz. Perks of having a big blocker in front of you. Good late move from Brunner. Chance nobody up. Oh nice touch from Brasher to keep this play going. And the first set from Nina is over the net. Hasn't had an opportunity and Brasher cleans it up. That was incredible as well. Too tight on that set. Possibly the wind kind of blowing that ball. But ended up a bit more than she thought. There is a little bit of breeze if you've been joining us. Definitely swinging around with on a riverbed here in Saquarema. So it's coming from the far end of your screens as Taryn with a big defensive move. And what a delivery. The link play between Taryn and Kristen in transition is just so good. That's a very smart hit, but she's still pushing. Maybe it's gonna pay off. Good lift from Melissa. Swinging out wide. That's high. That's tricky. Good slow down. Opportunity for Cruz. The high hand defense from Brandy. But what a beautiful read. Taryn, Brasher just all over it. And Melissa running in the right direction but doesn't play out surprisingly. What a great job by Taryn. What a read she has. On to Taryn. And she goes on to. Difficulty is that Kristen can read everything. What a good turn and burn. And the delivery with blindsided. I know where you are. Incredible vision. Using that peripheral vision to full effect. Oh, and Taryn Brasher. And Brandy Wilkerson into the net. And you have your gold medalist. The number two seeds from the USA, Kristen Cruz and Taryn Brasher taking home the gold.