Kloth/Nuss Drop Heartbreaker in Paris Round of 16

PARIS, France (August 5, 2024) – The U.S. beach team of Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss came from behind late in both sets on Monday before falling to Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson of Canada in the Paris Round of 16, 2-0 (21-19, 21-18). Kloth/Nuss posted a 3-1 record in their first Olympic appearance and finished ninth.

Nuss registered a double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs. She hit at a .522 efficiency percentage for the match with only one error in 23 total attacks. Kloth finished with 15 points on 11 kills and four blocks, while also contributing six digs.

“Very disappointed,” Kloth said. “Excited that I got this opportunity and that I got to play with Kristen and that is what I am focusing on.”

Canada held slight advantages in kills (26-24) and blocks (5-4), while serving all five aces in the match. The five blocks were more than the U.S. yielded in its three pool play matches combined.

Melissa/Brandie outscored Kloth/Nuss on each side of the court to open the match with an 8-6 lead. The U.S. responded with a 6-0 run keyed by a deep lob shot from Nuss that evened the score 8-8. After a Canada point, Nuss scored on two balls down the line to give the U.S. its biggest lead, five points at 14-9. Canada went on its own 6-0 run to take the lead, 15-14, and force the U.S. to use its timeout.

Neither team was able to take a two-point lead until a block and ace gave Canada a 19-17 lead. Kloth recorded a kill to side out and then Nuss delivered a cut shot that tied the score again. Canada retook the lead with a kill and captured the set on a hitting error into the net. Nuss led all players with nine kills with Kloth adding four points on three kills and a block.

Melissa/Brandie continued the momentum into the second set as a block and ace made it 7-3 and forced the U.S. to use its timeout early in the set. When it took a 10-5 lead, Canada had scored 22 of the last 32 points in the match.

A Nuss kill to end a long rally and a Kloth block brought the U.S, within two points, 10-8. Canada called timeout and scored two of the next three points before the changeover to take a 12-9 lead. An ace by Brandie extended the lead back to four points, 15-11.

A Kloth tap cut the deficit back to two points, 15-13, but Canada scored the next two points after the side switch to again move ahead by four points. Kloth scored to make it 17-14 before a quick medical timeout for Nuss to get a bandage on her hand. Nuss scored the next point, and a Canada error made it a one-point set, 17-16.

The teams split the next two points before a Kloth block tied the set 18-18. The U.S. had a chance to take the lead, but a tight set led to Brandie’s fifth block. She got her hands on U.S. attacks on each of the final two points, which resulted in Canadian kills. Kloth totaled 11 points on eight kills and three blocks with Nuss adding four kills.

“Definitely a little heartbroken,” Nuss said. “We came in wanting to bring gold back to the United States and that has been our goal for the past four years so to go out in the Round of 16 is obviously an earlier exit than we would like. That is a credit to that prenominal Canadian team. We’ve played them a lot and they definitely outplayed us today.”