Andy Benesh
6-9
PARIS, France (July 29, 2024) – Playing in nearly 115-degree heat on center court, the U.S. beach team of Miles Partain and Andy Benesh outlasted Mohammed Abicha and Zouheir Elgraoui of Morocco, 2-0 (21-12, 28-26) to even their record at 1-1 on Tuesday.
Partain/Benesh will play their final pool match Thursday, Aug. 1 against George Wanderley and Andre Loyola of Brazil at 6 a.m. PT (3 p.m. local).
“The heat was a big factor,” Partain said. “Especially for blocking and if you were getting served and getting a lot of jumps in. The water breaks help, but it’s really hot.”
Benesh posted match-highs of 16 kills and 20 points, adding a block and three of the four aces in the match. Partain scored 16 points on 15 kills and the other ace, adding a match-best nine digs.
The U.S. jumped out to a 3-0 lead and quickly extended the lead to seven points, 13-6. Partain scored his seventh point after recording back-to-back kills to make it 17-9. A Benesh kill made it 20-11, the team’s 15th kill of the set without an error. The set ended on a Morocco service error. Partain finished the set with nine kills and Benesh added eight points on six kills and two aces.
Partain/Benesh took the lead quickly in the second set. A great dig and kill by Partain off the block gave the U.S. its biggest lead of the day, 17-9. Just four points from victory, the U.S. tandem had committed just one hitting error.
Trailing 18-11, Abicha/Elgraoui went on an impressive 9-2 run to even the score at 20. A Partain kill made it 24-23 and the U.S. appeared to end the match on a Benesh kill, but Morocco successfully challenged a net touch. After seven match points were defended, the U.S. duo finished the match when Benesh, who first blocked a ball back over the net, put a ball away over the top of the defense for a 28-26 victory.
“It’s pretty easy to roll over when stuff like that happens,” Benesh said. “Miles is great supporting me and I think I did a good job of staying in the moment and we were able to pull it out.”
Benesh scored 12 points in the set with 10 points, a block and a kill. Partain totaled seven points on six kills and an ace.
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