Defending champions Misty May and Kerri Walsh on Thursday kept their cool -- and a perfect record -- at the Beach Volleyball World Championship, defeating sixth-seeded Stephanie Pohl and Okka Rau after players staged a brief boycott.
Play was delayed 1 hour and 45 minutes on Thursday while players negotiated with International Volleyball Federation President Ruben Acosta on new contracts and the establishment of a players' commission.
May and Walsh downed the tired host team 21-19, 21-17 for their fourth straight win at the championship.
The US women's pair have not lost an international match since July 2003 apart from two forfeit losses at the last worlds in Brazil, when May suffered an abdominal injury.
"Okka and Stephanie always play us tough ... and keep us on our toes," Walsh said.
Their game had been advanced up the schedule because of disruption caused by the boycott. "That was really draining ... It could have ended very badly," Walsh said.
The walkout by players came after Acosta refused to accept their demands in late-night talks Wednesday, attended by a handful of competitors including Rau.
Players took part in matches Thursday morning before starting their boycott at 12pm. Play started again at 1.45pm.
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