South Bay, California, USA, February 4, 2015 – USA’s Emily Day was a regular on the 2014 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour alongside the likes of Summer Ross, Heather Hughes and Brittany Hocheva, but the part-time maths tutor is hoping to multiply her medal chances in 2015 with new partner Jen Kessy.
The duo are teaming up for the first time this year with 2009 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship winner Kessy taking 27-year-old Day under her wing.
“I’m very excited to be playing with Jen,” said Day in a video. “It’s going to be a challenge being a new team but we are practicing every day and getting used to one another.”
The California native is currently preparing for the season ahead and she is hoping to add to the silver medal she won with Summer Ross at the 2013 Phuket Open, so far her only World Tour podium finish.
“We’re really taking those strides to get towards medalling at the OG in 2016,” she added.
Kessy is a World Tour veteran having won 10 events and 31 medals on the circuit between 2007 and 2013 as well as a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games. But the 37-year-old had a break in 2014 to start a family.
However, the time off has made her hungrier for more success.
“It’s been an amazing experience,” Kessy said on starting a family. “The whole time I always knew I was going to come back.
“At the end of the day we work so hard. We spend time away from our families. We digging, diving in the sand because we love it. It makes us laugh, it makes us smile. It really gives us that competitive feeling.”
You can watch the full video below