By Mike Miazga

Motherhood is on the minds of beach volleyball’s most dominant team.

Two-time Olympic gold medalists Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh both confirmed to Volleyball they will likely miss the 2009 season in anticipation of starting families.

“My future is ‘Dancing With the Stars (hit ABC reality series that May-Treanor is currently a cast member on),’ waiting for my husband (Florida Marlins catcher Matt Treanor) to come back and then trying to start a family in December or so when ‘Dancing’ is done,” said May-Treanor in late September.

“Finish the season in Dubai (FIVB), take a vacation and start working on baby plans,” wrote Walsh in an e-mail about her short-term plans.

Both said playing in 2009 is likely not in the cards.

“I plan on playing a few stops on the Hot Winters Nights tour (AVP indoor series) and that’s about it,” said Walsh.

“I didn’t really plan on playing next year,” said May-Treanor.

Both team members expressed relief at the prospect of having time off the court.

“I haven’t had a break from volleyball since I was about 12-years-old,” said May-Treanor. “It’s a good thing. There’s still coaching and clinics and I won’t stop training as far as weights and things. I need a break for a little bit.”

“I am very much looking forward to some real time off, a lot of quality time with my husband (AVP men’s player Casey Jennings) and our families as well as starting a new chapter in my life with Casey,” said Walsh.

May-Treanor is equally excited about the prospects of motherhood.

“I’m looking forward to bringing a child into this world,” said May-Treanor. “I’m excited to start a new journey with Matt. It’s going to be so fun.”

Walsh said reality sunk in shortly after the duo won their record fourth straight Manhattan Beach Open crown in late September.

“It was definitely an emotional weekend,” said Walsh. “When we were about to do our post-game interviews, the reality of the situation hit me and it was really very bittersweet. Misty and I hope to play together again, but you never know. It has been eight years of magic and the weight of that took my breath away. It has been such a special journey with Misty.”

“I thought about it a little bit,” said May-Treanor of her run with Walsh coming to an end for the time being. “We’re still friends and we’re still going to be talking to each other.”

Since forming their partnership in 2001, May-Treanor and Walsh have gone 732-53 (.932 winning percentage) and have won 99 of the 135 tournaments they have entered, which includes FIVB world championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007 and Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2008 (14-0 Olympic record). May-Treanor is the all-time winningest female pro beach player (105 wins), while Walsh ranks second (102 wins). May-Treanor is the all-time women’s earnings leader ($1,824,158), while Walsh is second ($1,757,958). The duo, which had a 112-match winning streak snapped in Mason, Ohio after the Olympics, has won over $3 million as a team.

Walsh played in the AVP’s season-ending event in Glendale, Ariz., and then was slated to wrap up a tiring season in Dubai on the FIVB World Tour with fellow Olympian Nicole Branagh.

“I can’t even begin to tell you how overwhelming our schedules have been since returning from Beijing,” said Walsh. “Tiresome is the tip of the iceberg. Wonderful, crazy, surreal and hilarious are also good words to describe the madness.”

For May-Treanor, life on “Dancing With The Stars” has been nothing short of a blast.

“I laughed. I’m in more clothes now. People aren’t used to that,” said May-Treanor the day of the first live ABC results show.

“Dancing is awesome. I’m having a blast. It’s so fun and challenging. The cast has been great. It’s a really fun group with a lot of different characters.”

But dancing is no walk in the park.

“It’s difficult. It’s not as easy as people think,” said May-Treanor. “To do the ballroom and the different Latin styles, it’s really technical.  It’s such a great workout. It’s something new. It’s an adventure.”

While she’s used to playing in front of large crowds, May-Treanor said the live TV setting with “Dancing With The Stars” is another animal.

“Kerri and I don’t get nervous playing in front of people,” said May-Treanor. “Doing something live, you don’t want to mess up. There is pressure. It’s nerve-racking.”

But May-Treanor would do it again in a heartbeat.

“I’m glad I did it,” said May-Treanor. “If they called me again with the same opportunity, I don’t think I would ever turn them down.”