Brazilian teams sweep AVP women's beach volleyball tourney (PHOTOS)

Photos by Tony Mangia

With important qualifying points for the 2016 Olympics in their country on the line, the Brazilian women's teams dominated the final day of the AVP Grand Slam beach volleyball tourney on Sunday.

The ladies from Brazil were so good, they swept the podium at the St. Petersburg, Florida event.

Photos by Tony Mangia

Under sunny skies and triple-digit temps, third-seeded Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas defeated second-seeded Maria Antonelli and Juliana Felisberta for the gold, and Tiana Lima and Fernanda Alves beat Germany's Karla Borger and Britta Buthe for the bronze.

Next year's Olympics are in Rio de Janeiro.

"With the Olympic ranking, we have a big fight with the Brazilians about this, so for us this first place is very important, as we can only have two teams in the Rio Olympics," said Seixas.

It was Brazil's 22nd women's podium sweep — a record for FIVB, the sport's world governing body — and the first since Nov. 1, 2014. After seven women's events on the FIVB World Tour, the past five straight have been won by three teams from Brazil.

Bednarczuk and Seixas maintained their position as the world's top-ranked team heading into next week's world championships in the Netherlands. They won all seven matches in the tournament without losing a set.

It was the fifth straight tournament won by a Brazilian team.

May, Walsh show NBA stars how it's done on sand court

One reason people seem to like the beach volleyball events at the Olympics is because it looks like everyone can play it— some better than others.

Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and James Harden of the U.S. men's basketball team found that out the hard way after they helped warm up the American pair, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings with an impromptu game of volleyball before the duo prepared to play a late night match on Thursday.  It was no day at the beach for the men.

The three NBA stars quickly learned that jumping around on the soft sand was a little more difficult than running on the hardwood.

The two volleyball stars were looking for someone to warm up with when their basketball counterparts miraculously showed up right before their late night match.  The U.S. team has been scheduled for 11 pm (local time) starts to maximize exposure to American television.

The five American athletes played a quick two-on-three friendly on the warm-up court before the women went center stage at the main volleyball stadium.

Durant— who has said he wanted to give beach volleyball a try— did block one shot on the significantly shorter Walsh.  But it was during garbage time after the women had built up a sizable lead.

While Durant and his buddies were finding out what it is like to get spiked by two of the world's best, the women were hoping some of the men's wizardry would rub off on them.

"At first I'm like, 'Gosh we got to be focusing,'" Walsh said.  "But when you're so intense, once they're there and you're getting their energy, it's such a welcome distraction . . . They're awesome and they have magic about them and I want to take some of that magic."

"It's fun and good for the sport," said May.  "You don't see them getting in the pool with Michael Phelps, right?  They're here with us playing volleyball."

Women's beach volleyball players can cover up at London Olympics

Female beach volleyball players will have the option of wearing less revealing uniforms at the London Olympics this summer.

In  an attempt by the sport's governing body to respect the the cultural beliefs of various countries, the International Volleyball Federation says it will allow shorts and sleeved tops at the Olympics— in addition to bikinis and body suits.

Think male viewership will drop off?

Bikinis have been part of the player's wardrobe since beach volleyball became an Olympic medal event at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Players typically opted for body suits in chillier weather.

There will be a 24-team beach volleyball lineup in London this summer and the rule already applied to Continental Cup qualifiers for the Olympics involving 142 nations.

Federation spokesman Richard Baker tells The Associated Press that "many of these countries have religious and cultural requirements, so the uniform needed to be more flexible."

The modified rule permits "shorts of a maximum length of (1.18 inches) above the knee, and sleeved or sleeveless tops."

Beach volleyball at the London Games will be played July 28-Aug. 12 in a stadium at Horse Guards Parade near Buckingham Palace.

The sport is usually dominated by the U.S. and Brazilian teams.