In her first tournament appearance since February, Kerri Walsh Jennings and her partner Nicole Branagh were eliminated in the country quota round of the Swatch Porec Major.

Walsh Jennings and Branagh faced Brittany Hochevar and Emily Day in a match to determine which USA team would advance to the qualifier of the FIVB Porec Major, a five star international tournament in Croatia. Day and Hochevar, who have finished ninth or higher four times on the international tour this season, defeated their fellow Americans in straight sets, 21-16, 21-16.

"It went well, we won in two. It's very nerve-wracking, it's country quota where it's do or die -- but it went well out there," Day said after the match.

Earlier this year, Walsh Jennings chose not to sign the new AVP player contract, a decision which led to her split with previous partner April Ross. She announced her partnership with Branagh in late May and the Porec Major was the new pair's first outing.

Day and Hochevar, on the other hand, have played five FIVB tournaments and two AVPs already this year, winning the title at the AVP Huntington Beach Open. Day and Hochevar will now move on the qualifier where they are the top seed and have a bye into the second round.

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