BEIJING • America rules the beach.

The United States completed its sweep of beach volleyball competition with a three-set victory over Brazil on Thursday night in the men’s gold-medal match.

The American team of Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers shrugged off a sloppy second set to pulverize Marcio Araujo and Fabio Magalhaes in the final set. The U.S. won 23-21, 17-21, 15-4.

“I was so impressed,” said Kerri Walsh, who teamed with Misty May-Treanor on Wednesday to win the women’s gold. ‘They’re an amazing team, but Phil was really special. It was his match.”

Dalhausser, who stands a formidable 6-foot-9, dominated the final set, nailing slams while repeatedly blocking Brazilian shots at the net.

He blocked four straight shots, pushing the Americans to a 9-1 lead that all but clinched the victory.

Heading into the final set, it looked gloomy for the Americans. After blowing a 13-10 lead to lose the second set, Dalhausser and Rogers huddled for a brief pep rally.

“We’re going to win this match,” they said to each other. “That’s why we came here.”

Dalhausser didn’t bother with false modesty. He agreed with Walsh’s description of his performance.

It was, he said, a special day.

“It was one of those things,” he said. “You’re in the zone, and you just do it. That is the best feeling. In the zone, you see everything in slow-motion. That was how it felt for me and it was perfect timing, too.”

Walsh and May-Treanor won their gold on a gloomy, overcast day, but the men’s victory came on a bright morning, ideal for a visit to the beach.

Several hundred American fans chanted, “USA, USA,” and one fan even wore a red, white and blue Evel Knievel jumpsuit.Contact the writer: 476-4895 or david.ramsey@gazettedev.gazette.com

Todd Rogers of the United States is embraced by teammate Philip Dalhausser after defeating Brazil in the gold medal match for the men’s beach volleyball at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, in Beijing, China, Friday, Aug. 22, 2008. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Photo by