One of the longest winning streak’s in international sports is over.
After a record 40 straight match victories and seven consecutive titles, Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser were finally beaten on the FIVB World Tour.
Brazilians Emanuel Rego and Alison Cerutti on Sunday defeated Santa Barbara’s pro beach volleyball stars in the final of the Prague Open, 21-19, 21-14, in the Czech Republic capital.
It was the Brazilians’ first win in a final against Rogers and Dalhausser, who had beaten them in five previous gold-medal matches, including this year’s season opener in Brasilia, Brazil. Rogers-Dalhausser lead the overall series 8-2.
“We knew that they were coming after us”, Rogers told FIVB.org. “They changed a few things, really surprising us. Next time it will be our turn to mix things up and surprise them. It is just like playing a chess game.”
A key reason Rogers-Dalhausser lost the match was Alison winning the blocking and spiking battle at the net against Dalhausser.
“Also my passing was not good enough today”, Dalhausser told FIVB.org. “We will go back to the States now and practice hard for the Beijing Grand Slam and the World Championships in Rome.”
Rogers-Dalhausser won the first two tournaments on the world tour and their last five from the 2010 season. Sunday’s loss was their first since July 3, when they lost in the semifinals at the Grand Slam event in Stavenger, Norway.
