PARIS, France (July 28, 2024) – The U.S. Beach Team of world No. 3s Sarah Hughes and Kelly Chen came on strong late in the first set in their first Olympic match to defeat Barbora Hermanova and Marisala Stoklova of the Czech Republic 2-0 (21-16, 21-11) on Sunday.
Reunited as a team in 2022, the reigning world champions and former collegiate national champions from USC will return to the beach on Tuesday, July 30, at 6 a.m. PST (3 p.m. local time) to take on host France’s Clemence Vieira and Aline Chamelot.
Chen had 15 kills, two blocks and an ace for a total of 18 points, while Hughes had 16 digs, plus 10 kills and two blocks for 12 points.
“I wouldn’t want to play with anybody else,” Hughes said. “We have that chemistry, that togetherness, that communication, so it feels good to be playing together on the biggest stage in the world.”
The opening set was tied 13 times and deadlocked at 15-15, but the two Americans won six of the final seven points to end the set. Chen scored a kill on the run, ended a strong rally with a shot along the line, and scored again on the second of a great dig by Hughes to give the U.S. their first three-point lead through both teams, 18-15. A block by Chen made it 19-15, and after a Czech point, Chen scored consecutive points to end the set.
“We tried to over-communicate. The ball moves a little differently in that stadium so we just tried to stay calm, stay patient and communicate with each other step by step,” Chen said. “We were a little nervous at the beginning of the first play but after that we settled down.”
Strong play from Chen and cutting shots from Hughes forced the Czechs to take an early timeout at 5-2 in the second set. After a hitting error made it 6-2, the Czechs won three straight points to get within one but couldn’t tie the score.
Leading 9-8, Hughes/Chen went on a decisive 6-1 run during which Hughes scored four points and closed the run with an ace. Like the opening set, Hughes/Chen finished the second set on a 6-1 run, with a block and ace from Chen making it 18-10. The match ended with a kill from Hughes after a furious rally. Hughes had nine points with seven kills and two aces, while Chen added eight points with six kills, one block and one ace.
