Americans Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes Knocked Out of Olympic Beach Volleyball

In a surprising turn of events at the Olympic women’s beach volleyball tournament, top-ranked American duo Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes faced a tough defeat against Switzerland‘s Nina Brunner and Tanja Huberli. The match ended in straight sets, with scores of 21-18 and 21-19, causing the Americans to exit the competition.

Cheng and Hughes struggled to adapt to both the adjustments made by their Swiss opponents and the windy conditions at the Eiffel Tower Stadium. They fell behind 14-10 in the first set, but a brief 3-0 run brought them back into contention. However, Brunner and Huberli maintained their lead, ultimately taking the first set.

The American pair fought hard to keep the second set competitive. Hughes showcased her skills with impressive digs that kept their chances alive. At one point, Cheng and Hughes took a 14-12 lead thanks to a 3-0 run that gave them some hope.

But Huberli, known for her exceptional blocking skills, proved to be a significant challenge at the net for the Americans. The 28-year-old Swiss player executed powerful attacks that put pressure on the U.S. defense. Both teams exchanged points until a critical 2-0 run from Switzerland sealed the match.

The statistics weren’t in favor of the Americans; they were out-attacked by five points and made four costly service errors. This defeat means that both highly-rated U.S. teams will not have a shot at winning gold in Paris. With this loss, it marks the first time that a U.S. women’s duo will not make it to the Olympic beach volleyball podium since the year 2000.