It’s been eight years since they last played together in a competition but so far, their reunion has been a success. Holly McPeak and Kerri Walsh Jennings swept both of the matches they appeared in during day one of the 2009 AVP Crocs Championship Cup Kentucky Grilled Chicken Chicago Open.

In 2001, after her usual partner, Misty May-Treanor, was out of commission due to knee surgery, Walsh found herself in need of a partner to compete in an FIVB tournament in Brazil. That’s when she and McPeak teamed up and made it all the way to the event’s title match. “We played against Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede, I played like crap and we lost,” recalled Walsh. “So, I still owe Holly a championship.”

Fast forward to this season: Both women have gone on to accomplish exciting things. 2001 was Walsh’s rookie season and since then she’s become one half of the most well-known and most successful duo to ever play the sport. She’s won gold at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, and gold in the 2003, 2005, and 2007 World Championships.

The 2009 season was the first one Walsh would take off after she and husband Casey had a son, Joseph.

Holly McPeak, another beach volleyball legend, competed in the first three Olympics that had beach volleyball competitions, won a bronze in 2004, and was the first woman to surpass $1 million in career earnings.

McPeak’s 2009 season was supposed to be her last as she announced her retirement in April. After retiring from volleyball, McPeak began working a full-time office job. “I’ve only played beach volleyball three times since, all of them for fun with my husband.”

However, neither athlete could stay away from the sand and competition for long. Walsh made her debut in Hermosa with fellow new mom Rachel Wacholder. They played again in Muskegon, Mich. but the duo had to eventually forfeit after Wacholder injured her shoulder.

When Walsh again needed someone to fill in as her partner, she could think of none other than McPeak. “I think Holly is an amazing player. I’ve always wanted to play with her again but it just never worked out before now.”

Two days before the Chicago tournament was set to start, McPeak got a call from Walsh who proposed that they join forces again. McPeak, excited for the chance to get her competitive juices flowing again, agreed. “We haven’t practiced together or anything,” said McPeak. “I just flew in last night and [Friday morning’s] match was our first time together.”

The two, seeded number six for the tournament, are working well together. “She’s great on defense, she digs a million balls,” explained Walsh. “And, I’m a pretty good blocker so I think we compliment each other well.”

However, the lack of practice as a team does put them at a disadvantage. Each person likes their sets a different way, digs the ball a different way, etc. Their rhythm and timing is what they hope to synchronize before the finals.

“We’re going to fight our way through, out-scrap everyone, and just keep things simple above all else,” said Walsh.

Team Walsh/McPeak will begin day two against Jenny Johnson Jordan and Annette Davis.

Click here for an all-access video of McPeak and Walsh together in Chicago!

In other day one action on the women’s side, seeds 1-6, 8, and 10 made it through to the 3rd round without a loss. Because this tournament is double elimination, 7th seeded Jennifer Fopma and Brittany Hochevar and 9th seeds Brooke Hanson and Lisa Rutledge still have a chance but must battle through the contenders bracket.

On the men’s side, after suffering a wrist injury, 3rd seeded Sean Rosenthal and partner Jake Gibb were upset by 19th seeded Russ Marchewka and Ty Tramblie. Gibb/Rosenthal continued on through the contenders bracket and defeated #13 Paul Baxter and Brady Halverson then #12 Anthony Medel and Hans Stoulfus and #8 Billy Allen and Matt Fuerbringer to continue on to Saturday.

Top-seeded Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers sailed through all three of their matches and increased their winning streak to 33 straight matches after soundly defeating 4th seeded Nick Lucena/Brad Keenan 21-10 and 21-13.

After winning their first three matches, 6th seeded John Mayer and Jeff Nygaard were set to take on 2nd seeded John Hyden and Sean Scott but decided to forfeit because Nygaard didn’t feel well. Their forfeit put them in to the contenders bracket and pushed Hyden/Scott into the semifinals.