USA’s Chances of Ending 14-Year-Old Draught Diminish as Top Women’s Beach Volleyball Teams Collide at Volleyball World Championship Semi-Finals

The Beach Volleyball World Championships Tlaxcala 2023 have been nothing short of a spectacular showdown. Team USA has been shining brightly throughout this thrilling spectacle. And it was a surreal week for the entire nation. With a remarkable nine American pairs competing in the World Championships, six of them claimed top-10 finishes. Now, the spotlight is set to determine the world’s best women’s beach volleyball team, and the stakes have never been higher.

The last time USA Women’s Beach Volleyball claimed gold was at the 2009 SWATCH FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Stavanger, Norway. The team of April Ross and Jennifer Kessy stood atop the podium back then, and now, the hope and anticipation are building as the chances of ending this 14-year-old drought are rekindled.

USA vs USA at Beach Volleyball World Championships

In a recent post on USAV Beach, “Three U.S. beach teams are on to the semifinals at the Beach World Championship in Mexico! Kelly Cheng/Sara Hughes and Kristen Nuss/Taryn Kloth both secured victories and are set to face each other in a tantalizing showdown. On the men’s side, Trevor Crabb/Theo Brunner clinched their spot. Let’s go!”

Kloth and Nuss currently stand second in the world rankings and are third in global Olympic qualifying, recently surpassing Cheng and Hughes on both lists. With these rankings, it’s looking increasingly likely that these two dynamic teams will earn the coveted U.S. Olympic spots for 2024. It’s worth noting that this marks the 13th time this season Kloth and Nuss will face off against American opponents on the Beach Pro Tour, with their upcoming match against Cheng and Hughes being the third.

The thrilling showdown at the quarterfinals

“Not only is it two [USA teams] in the semis, but the sheer number of American teams that made it to the round of 16 is a testament to the strength of our talent pool,” Nuss remarked, referring to the six American teams who vied for spots in the quarterfinals.

In the second quarterfinal match of the night, Kloth and Nuss faced their first set loss of the tournament but still managed to secure a 2-1 victory (21-17, 19-21, 15-8) over reigning European champions Nina Brunner and Tanja Hüberli of Switzerland. The women’s semifinals of the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships at the Tlaxcala Bullring are set to feature an all-American duel and a battle between duos from Brazil and Australia.

Read more: With Record 9 Wins on the Road, Stanford Women’s Volleyball Team on a Roll, Mid-Way Through the Pac-12 Conference Season

The suspense and excitement surrounding the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships have reached fever pitch, as Team USA’s best will battle head-to-head in an epic showdown.

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