Kerri Walsh to take on Olympic rivals in Long Beach beach volleyball tournament today

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jeings is set to play two matches today as men’s and women’s main draw play begins in the $800,000 World Series of Beach Volleyball on Alamitos Beach in Long Beach.

Seven days after wiing Olympic bronze medals, Walsh Jeings and April Ross will face Canadians Melissa Humana-Paredes and Taylor Pischke at 9:50 a.m. and Brazilians Carol and Ana Patricia at 4 p.m. in pool play matches.

There will be two rounds of women’s play and one round of men’s play today. The men’s and women’s fields will both be reduced to 24 teams at the conclusion of Thursday’s play.

Walsh Jeings and Ross are seeded first in the 32-team women’s field from 15 nations. The Brazilians Larissa and Talita, who lost to Walsh Jeings and Ross in the bronze medal match, are seeded second.

American Olympians Nick Lucena and Phil Dalhausser are the top seeds in the men’s draw. Dalhausser was a 2008 Olympic gold medalist.

The tournament will also include an electronic dance music concert Saturday and a celebrity match Sunday featuring actor Josh Hutcherson and retired NFL receiving star Terrell Owens.

General admission is free. More information on the tournament is available at wsobv.com.