Intro:

The US pair of Jennifer Kessy and April Ross won the FIVB Thailand Open in Bangsaen on Sunday (28th October) after a straight sets defeat of Russian duo Evgenia Ukolova and Ekaterina Khomyakova.

Script:

Bang Saen in Thailand saw the women's World Tour reach it's culmination on Sunday as Jennifer Kessy and April Ross of the US took on Evgenia Ukolova and Ekaterina Khomyakova in the final.

It was the first time that the pairs had faced each other - but the Americans started brighter in the searing heat and quickly opened out an healthy advantage in the first set.

Kessy and Ross - silver medallists at the London Olympics - had taken the long route to the final, after going through two rounds in the losers bracket to reach the semi finals.

However, having seen off the challenge of their compatriots Lauren Fendrick and Nicole Branagh in the last four, Kessy and Ross didn't want to end the competition on a bum note- and wrapped up the first set 21-17 as Khomyakova sent her serve long.

The Russian duo managed to get off to a better start in the second set, and opened out an early 5-2 lead - but once again, the Americans came storming back.

Once they had reestablished their advantage, Kessy and Ross never looked back - sealing a 21-17, 21-19 triumph in the first ever USA-Russia final in the history of the women's World Tour.