Kelly Cheng
6-2
PARIS, France (July 31, 2024) – The U.S. beach team of Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng won their second match in a row in straight sets at the Paris Olympics with a 2-0 (21-16, 23-21) win over Clémence Vieira and Aline Chamereau of host France on Wednesday.
Hughes/Cheng complete pool play competition against the German team of Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann on Friday, August 2 at 1 p.m. PT (10 p.m. local).
“It’s great being 2-0 in pool play so far,” Hughes said. “That France team played really really well. At some point we got behind, but we just looked at each other and said hey, we just have to take it one point at a time. We didn’t get flustered or anything, we just kept going for it.”
Cheng led all players with 20 points with match-highs of 16 kills and three blocks, adding an ace. Hughes finished with 11 points on 10 kills and an ace, and eight digs. Cheng added four digs.
Cheng totaled 18 points on 15 kills, two blocks and an ace. Hughes registered 12 points with 10 kills and two blocks, in addition to 16 digs.
In a close first set, the U.S. led 14-12 when Hughes made a great dig on a shot off the net and Kelly ended a long rally with a block for a three-point lead. Hughes later recorded back-to-back kills to stretch the lead to four points, 18-14. Cheng led the team with nine points on seven kills, a block and an ace, while Hughes contributed four kills.
France took an early lead in the second set, 8-6, and took its biggest lead of the match, 12-9. The U.S. cut the lead back to one point, 12-11 and took the lead on a Cheng block that tied the set 14-14 and a Hughes ace for the lead.
The set remained close the rest of the way. A Cheng bump kill gave the U.S. its first match point at 20-19. Cheng recorded a kill on a long rally to make it 21-20 before the French team fought off another match point. A strong dig and then a kill by Hughes put the U.S. team back within a point of the match and a Cheng block ended it. Cheng scored 11 points on nine kills and two blocks, and Hughes finished with seven points on six kills and an ace.
Cheng said that her bond with Hughes is beneficial to their performance each time the pair hit the sand.
“I think all those little things just connect us, unite us, keep us talking, keep us on the same page,” Cheng said. “I think they are so important for us and our team and it pays off every match, win or lose.”
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