Kerri Walsh Jennings is entered to compete in her first beach volleyball events in 21 months, signing up with a new partner, Zana Muno.
Walsh Jennings, 44 and the most successful Olympic beach player with three golds and one bronze, and Muno, a 26-year-old former UCLA indoor standout, are entered in the Queen and King of the Court event in Miami next week, organizers announced last week.
They are also entered in an FIVB international tournament in Itapema, Brazil, in early April.
Walsh Jennings is still expected to play with 41-year-old former Stanford teammate Logan Tom, her previously announced new partner, later this year. For now, Walsh Jennings said that she and Muno paired to earn ranking points for their respective teams.
Walsh Jennings and Tom are limited in what events they can enter given their lack of points since Walsh Jennings last played in June 2021 and Tom last played on the beach in 2007.
Muno played four FIVB events last year, with three different partners, with a best finish of third.
“Logan and I are committed,” Walsh Jennings said Monday through a representative. “Zana is incredible and I’m excited to come back to competition with such a fiery and hungry competitor.”
Walsh Jennings, who missed qualifying for the Tokyo Games with partner Brooke Sweat by one spot, said last month that she is not yet committing to a 2024 Olympic bid.
“Paris is in the background, right?” Walsh Jennings said then. “That’s obviously out there. That would be the ultimate goal, but we’re really taking this one phase at a time.”
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