She and Nicole Branagh won 24-22, 21-19 against German opponents Karla Borger and Margareta Kozuch in a Pool E match on centre court in the International Volleyball Federation-organised event at the Gstaad Arena.

She is chasing a seventh gold medal in the event which, if achieved, will match Brazilian Emanuel Rego's record for the most victories in one site on the World Tour.

Walsh Jennings, who turns 40 next month, will be competing in her 14th event in Gstaad after a ninth place with Branagh last season.

She played with Misty May-Treanor eight times and with April Ross four.

This included a stunning success over Brazilians Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas in 2015 in which Walsh Jennings returned to the court after dislocating her right shoulder midway through.

German pair Philipp Bergmann and Yannick Harms posted the biggest upset in men's qualifying by beating opponents including top seeded Poles Mariusz Prudel and Jakub Szalankiewicz.

They triumphed 15-21, 22-20, 15-9 in 45 minutes.

It followed an earlier 21-19, 21-15 success over another Polish pair in Kacper Kujawiak and Maciej Rudol.

Pool action will continue across both draws tomorrow.

The men's gold medal match is scheduled for July 14 with the women's a day later.