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While helping out with the 2012 FIVB Media Guide, I ran across what I'd call a strange set of coincidences while editing some text about the longest winning streaks.
The Streaks
Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh hold the FIVB's longest consecutive match winning streak at 74. The
streak began with a bronze medal victory in Stavanger, Norway on June 30, 2007 over Germans Sara Goller
and Laura Ludwig. It reached 69 matches culminating with the Olympic Gold Medal on August 21, 2008 in Beijing
before it was put on hold for over two seasons. May-Treanor
was injured in 2008 while practicing for Dancing With The Stars and missed all of 2009, and Walsh gave
birth to her two children, Joseph and Sundance, in 2009 and 2010 and missed all but two
events in 2010 -- which she played with Nicole Branagh. The pair reunited in 2011 and extended their
streak by five before it finally ended on April 22, 2011 with a gold medal loss in Brasilia to Brazilians Juliana
and Larrisa. The streak only spanned twelve events, but lasted almost four years. While each player was recuperating from injury (May-Treanor) and childbirth
(Walsh), each of them extended their own personal winning streaks by playing with Branagh.
May-Treanor's streak reached 71 before it was snapped on April 22, 2010 in Brasilia by Goller and
Ludwig. Walsh's streak reached 78 by winning the season-ending 2008 event in the U.A.E. with Branagh
and then losing in the Sanya event on October 30, 2010 to none other than Goller and Ludwig.
Fate, Karma, or Coincidence?
30th of the month: The streak started on June 30, 2007 and Walsh's ended on October 30, 2010
April 22nd: May-Treanor's streak ended on April 22, 2010 and the pair's streak ended on April 22, 2011
Nicole Branagh: Nicole played a part in both personal streaks, winning nine matches with Walsh in 2008 and 2010 and winning two matches with May-Treanor in 2010. She was also both player's partner when their streaks ended. In a side note, she also partnered with Elaine Youngs and snapped May-Treanor and Walsh's 112 consecutive match streak for combined AVP and FIVB events on August 31, 2008 in Mason, Ohio.
One day away: May-Treanor and Walsh's streak was put on hold after winning in Beijing on August 21, 2008 (one day off from the 22nd) and their 112 match streak for AVP and FIVB was ended on August 31, 2008 (one day off from the 30th).
Goller and Ludwig: The streaks started with a win over this pair and each personal streak was ended by a loss to them.
Goller and Ludwig had a chance to break the pair's streak at the Brasilia event in 2011 but lost first to Juliana and Larissa (who ended the May-Treanor/Walsh streak) and then to American's
Lauren Fendrick and Brooke Hanson, who then lost to May-Treanor and Walsh in the semi-finals. Perhaps Goller and Ludwig were taking advantage
of Nicole Branagh as a partner with May-Treanor or Walsh; the Germans won both of those meetings but have lost all six matches to May-Treanor and Walsh as partners.
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