Kelly Cheng
6-2
PARIS, France (August 2, 2024) – The U.S. beach team of Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng defeated Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann of Germany, 2-0 (21-18, 21-18) in a matchup of undefeated teams to finish 3-0 in pool play on Friday. Both teams advanced to the Round of 16 of the Paris Olympics which begins on Sunday, Aug. 4.
Cheng scored 20 points on 16 kills, a block and three aces, and Hughes totaled seven kills, an ace and seven digs. Müller/Tillman led in kills (25-23) and blocks (4-1), but the U.S. registered the only four service aces of the match. Hughes/Cheng made only seven errors, while benefitting from 14 errors by their opponents.
“That team is really really good and we knew we had to come in there and serve tough and battle and fight and that is exactly what we did,” Hughes said. “It was really fun to come out with a big win against a great team.”
Hughes/Cheng took the first three-point lead of the opening set, 11-8, but Müller/Tillman scored four of the next six points to close the gap to one point, 13-12. After a German service error, Hughes made a great dig and scored to extend the lead back to three, 15-12. A Hughes ace eventually made it 17-13 and Cheng closed out the set by scoring the team’s last points. Cheng finished the set with 10 points on nine kills and an ace with Hughes adding five points on four kills and an ace.
With the score 7-7 in the second set, back-to-back points gave Hughes/Cheng the lead for good. A block brought Müller/Tillman within a point, 12-11, but Cheng scored the next two points, one on a kill and the second on a block, to run the lead back to three.
The teams split the next 10 points before a Hughes kill down the line gave the U.S. its first match point at 20-16. The German duo fought off two match points before Cheng ended the match on a kill off the block. She recorded double digits in points again the second set with 10 points on seven kills, a block and two aces. Hughes contributed three kills.
Now on to the elimination stage, Cheng took a moment to reflect on the Olympic journey to this point with her partner.
“This has been so special to go into this with Sara and really fight to enjoy all the ups and downs,” Cheng said. “All the little things, and I think we have been doing that.”
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