Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh -- I'M BACK BITCHES ... With a New Lady

With her gold medal-winning partner Misty May-Treanor in retirement, Olympic volleyball champ Kerri Walsh returned to the sand with a brand new lady this week -- where the two plotted their inevitable world takeover.

The photos were snapped Tuesday -- Kerry and her new partner Nicole Branagh tested their chemistry during a practice session in Hermosa Beach ... and they killed it.

Unfortunately, they still got some kinks to work out -- the duo lost their most recent volleyball tournament last weekend ... to the chicks who took silver at the London Olympics.

FYI -- Misty might be throwing in the towel, but Kerri and her new girl are planning to go for gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016. It will be Kerri's 4th gold medal.