Hughes/Cheng Continue Winning Ways at Paris, Melissa/Brandie drop to 1-1

PARIS, France, July 31, 2024.- Americans Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng won their second match in a row and Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson of Canada dropped their record 1-1 on Wednesday at the Paris Olympics.

Hughes/Cheng won their second match in a row in straight sets with a 2-0 (21-16, 23-21) win over Clémence Vieira and Aline Chamereau of host France.

Hughes/Cheng complete pool play competition against the German team of Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann on Friday, August 2.

“It’s great being 2-0 in pool play so far,” Hughes said. “That France team played really really well. At some point we got behind, but we just looked at each other and said hey, we just have to take it one point at a time. We didn’t get flustered or anything, we just kept going for it.”

Cheng led all players with 20 points with match-highs of 16 kills and three blocks, adding an ace. Hughes finished with 11 points on 10 kills and an ace, and eight digs. Cheng added four digs.

“I think all those little things just connect us, unite us, keep us talking, keep us on the same page,” Cheng said. “I think they are so important for us and our team and it pays off every match, win or lose.”

Also on Wednesday, 16th seeded Esmee Bobner & Zoe Verge-Depre of Switzerland achieved a 2-1 (21-18, 13-21, 15-11) upset of fourth-seeded Canadians Melissa Humana-Paredes and  Brandie Wilkerson to remain the only undefeated team in Pool D and progress to the eighthfinals.

Zoe led the way with 21 points, including two aces. Brandie also finished with 21, including four kill blocks and three aces. In the same pool earlier in the day, Latvia’s Tina Graudina & Anastasija Samoilova, seeded ninth, achieved their first win at Paris 2024, a 2-0 (21-19, 21-15) straight-setter against Paraguay’s Giuliana Poletti & Michelle Valiente, with Tina leading the way with 22 points.

So, on Saturday, when the Latvians and the Canadians meet in the last Pool D, the winners will also gain a direct ticket to the last 16.

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