Metzger and Holdren Upset Fourth-Seeded German Pair
August 20, 2004 | Bruin Athletics
Aug. 20, 2004
The 12th seeded U.S. team of Stein Metzger (UCLA '96) and Dax Holdren upset the fourth-seeded team from Germany in three games in the first round of medal play Friday at the Athens Olympics. Metzger and Holdren won 21-16, 19-21, 15-13 in 65 minutes before a raucous crowd at the Olympic Beach Volleyball Center. The U.S. team advances to the quarterfinals to play the Swiss team of Patrick Heuscher and Stefan Kobel, which defeated Portugal 2-0. The German team of Markus Dieckmann and Jonas Reckermann had finsihed as the top team in their groups and were considered one of the pre-Olympic favorites after advancing to the last two European Championship finals. In addition, Dieckmann and Rechermann had defeated Metzger and Holdren in the 2004 season opener in Brazil. "It was a tight match the whole way and either team could have won," said Metzger after the match. "There was a lot of emotion and a great crowd." Metzger was surprised that the Germans started serving him. "Dax gets most of the sets," he said. "I was struggling passing with the sun in my eyes, but luckily we played an incredible match, and I think I made three big plays at the end." The U.S. pair won the match at the net, enjoying a 37-34 edge in kills and a six to four advantage in blocking. Metzger recorded 26 kills (.619) an ace and one block. Holdren added 11 kills (.523) and five blocks.