?Cardinal and Gold?: Unveiling the Unknown Origins of One of the World?s Best Beach Volleyball Duo?s Infamous Team Name

The duo who once ruled over the beach of volleyball 4 years ago are now back again. These two athletes began their beach volleyball path together during their school days. Together they achieved bronze medals at the 2013 FIVB U19 World Championships and the FIVB U21 World Championships in the following year. Early in 2016, they claimed the top spot at the World University Games.

Born in the same year Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes have grown up just a 30-minute drive away from each other. They began their journey in youth volleyball tournaments. However, their successful youth career as a pair experienced an unfortunate break. But good things don’t take time to return, falls 2022 turned out to be the bridge for the Cardinal and Gold Team.

The enigma of cardinal and gold

Cheng and Hughes made their comeback in 2022 which was truly beneficial for the United States and the world of women’s beach volleyball. Their incredible journey stands as a testament to friendship and determination. The duo’s nickname “Cardinal and Gold” was snatched from their hair color, which matched their school’s uniform at the University of Southern California.?Not only their team name was unique but also their bond both on and off the sand is special.

After four years and partnering with different players, Cheng and Hughes felt that their shared story was far from over. They trusted their guts and decided to reunite. Since their reunion, Cheng and Hughes have achieved remarkable success on the international stage. Hughes in an exclusive interview with Olympics.com said “We were always around each other because we’re competitors,” Hughes told Olympics.com. “And it was definitely a lot of competitive fire there, but I think we were always nice to each other…… When it was time to get together, I just had that?gut feeling.”

They clinched the prestigious World Tour Finals, marking the most significant victory for a U.S. beach volleyball. they played against the pair of April Ross and Alix Klineman where they secured gold at the Tokyo Olympics. Cheng and Hughes have participated in four tournaments since their return and emerged victorious in all of them, including domestic and international events.

Their impressive performance has catapulted them to become one of the top-ranked teams in the world. They are now setting their sights on extending the United States’ exceptional medal streak in beach volleyball at the 2024 Olympic Games. With their,?they even had NCAA titles with USC in 2016 and 2017.

In search of Cardinal and Gold

Despite their previous split in 2018 and their involvement with different partners for the Tokyo Olympics, they have also marked their way. Whether it is Cheng alongside Sarah Sponcil and Hughes with a partner’s injury, the duo has matured both as athletes and individuals. They’ve chosen to put their past behind them and are now focused on their future as a team.

Also read- USA Men?s Pairs Hit by a Stormy Day, Endure Double Defeat at the 2023 Beach World Championships

The anticipation for Cheng and Hughes’ latest event is now at its peak among the fans. Cheng told “We have really good chemistry. Our styles of play complement each other really well. We’re both at the same stages of life and on the same page with a lot of things. And I think that’s just helped us fight hard together and fight for each other on and off the court, which I think is really important.” Their journey stands as an inspiring example of how commitment and bond between athletes can lead to remarkable success.

Watch This Story:?Emergence of ?Daddies? Raises Hopes for the USA Men?s Volleyball Team Ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics?