U.S. Women’s Beach Volleyball Struggles in Paris

American hopes for a gold medal in women’s beach volleyball at the Paris Games were dashed on Tuesday night as the last remaining U.S. team of Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes was defeated by Switzerland’s Nina Brunner and Tanja Hüberli in the quarterfinals. The loss marked the first time since the sport’s inception in the 1996 Atlanta Games that the U.S. women failed to medal in the event.

Cheng and Hughes, who made it one round farther than they did in Tokyo, fell 21-18, 21-19 to the Swiss duo. Brunner made a key kick save with her left foot in the second set to give Switzerland a one-point lead, which they held on to win the match.

In the other women’s quarterfinal on Tuesday night, Australians Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy beat the Swiss team of Esmée Böbner and Zoe Verge-Depre in a tight three-setter, 21-19, 16-21, 15-12. The Aussies are the defending silver medalists, having lost to Americans April Ross and Alix Klineman in the Tokyo final.

The U.S. men’s team of Andy Benesh and Miles Partain is the only American team remaining in the tournament. They will play Qatar, the Tokyo bronze medalists, in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

The loss by the U.S. women was a disappointment for a nation that has dominated the sport since its inception. The U.S. women have won four gold medals and one silver medal in the six Olympic tournaments that have been held. However, the Swiss team played well and deserved their victory.

The U.S. women’s volleyball team will now focus on the future and try to regain their dominance in the sport. They will have a chance to do so at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.