Chop, chop: American entries cut in half in Paris Olympic beach volleyball tournament

PARIS (AP) — On the Champ de Mars, where the first mayor of Paris was sent to the guillotine during the Reign of Terror, the American beach volleyball squad got cut in half.

Two U.S. teams fell on the sand at Eiffel Tower Stadium on Monday, with Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss losing to Canada in the women’s round of 16 a few hours after Chase Budinger and Miles Evans lost to Norway in the men’s.

Only Miles Partain and Andy Benesh advanced on the day, joining Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes in the elite eight.

“Definitely a little heartbroken,” said Nuss, who along with her former LSU teammate formed the No. 2 team in the world rankings. “We came in wanting to bring home gold back to the United States. That’s been our goal for the past four years. So to go out in the round of 16 is obviously an earlier exit than we would have liked.”

Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Paredes beat Nuss and Kloth 21-19, 21-18, leaving the country that has won four of the last five women’s gold medals with just one team in the bracket.

Wilkerson isn’t just a giant killer in Olympic beach volleyball: She’s an American giant killer. She also eliminated the U.S. pair of Cheng and Sarah Sponcil in the first round of the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games.

“That’s what she’s good at doing,” Humana-Paredes said with a laugh.

“But honestly,” Wilkerson said, “they’re an amazing team. And it’s a whole new tournament. It’s a whole new Games, whole new atmosphere. We’re all different skill levels from what I was even, four years ago.

“We knew we were going to play this team at some point. They’re one of the best teams in the world. We thought it would be later in the tournament, because we both deserve to have a shot at those medals. But when we’re put in this situation, we were ready to respond.”

In other men's matches on Monday, Qatar beat Chile in straight sets, setting up a quarterfinal matchup with Partain and Benesh. Spain beat Poland, keeping six-time Olympian Pablo Herrera alive in his quest for his first medal since he won silver in Athens, 20 years ago.

On the women's side, Latvia beat Germany, Spain beat the Netherlands and Brazil beat Japan.

Budinger, a former NBA player, and Evans lost in straight sets to Norway, the defending Olympic champions, on Monday afternoon. To start off the night session, first-time Olympians Benesh and Partain knocked out four-time Olympian Paolo Nicolai and his partner, Samuele Cottafava, 21-19, 21-18.

“I am very in awe of how long they’ve been playing at such a high level. It’s definitely difficult to keep pushing your body after you’re at such a level of excellence. So I’m really inspired by those guys,” said Partain, who at 22 is the youngest person ever to represent the United States in Olympic beach volleyball.

“It’s cool that beach volleyball is a lifelong sport that you can play at a really high level till how old they are — and even past,” he said. “So I’m really glad to be a part of the sport that can do that encourages that and it’s part of its, kind of aura.”

Already at Paris, five-time Olympian and Rio de Janeiro gold medalist Laura Ludwig of Germany has been eliminated, and the 42-year-old Herrera has said he will retire.

The defending men’s gold medalists from Norway are 27 and 28 and the top-ranked team from Sweden features a pair of 22-year-olds.

Nicolai said he hasn’t made a decision on whether to go for a fifth Olympics. He would be 40 for Los Angeles in 2028.

“I’m 36, and I have to be sure that if I started a new Olympic journey, that I’m ready to do it,” he said. “Because I know how difficult it is to be focused for four more years.”

So, is it a young person’s sport?

“I hope so, because that means that we have a great future,” Nicolai said. “The Norwegians, Swedish, they are the top two in the rankings. And they are really young. So that’s great because they are full of energy. And so maybe after this tournament we can do something more for our sport because we deserve it."

“In all the two weeks, the crowd was always full and always crazy for the beach volleyball,” he said. “That’s the moment for us, for our sport to grow.”

This story has been updated to correct that the U.S. teams lost in the round of 16, not the quarterfinals. And Miles Partain, not Miles Evans, advanced.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

A spectator shows her patriotic support for Canada's Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson during a beach volleyball match against the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Brazil's Ana Patricia Silva Ramos helps up Eduarda "Duda" Santos Lisboa in a beach volleyball match against Japan at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Brazil's Ana Patricia Silva Ramos celebrates a victory over Japan in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Brazil's Ana Patricia Silva Ramos, left, and Eduarda "Duda" Santos Lisboa pose after a victory over Japan in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Netherlands' Raisa Schoon eyes the ball during the women's round of 16 beach volleyball match between Spain and Netherlands at Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Spain's Tania Moreno Matveeva hits the ball during the women's round of 16 beach volleyball match between Spain and Netherlands at Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Netherlands' Raisa Schoon hits the ball during the women's round of 16 beach volleyball match between Spain and Netherlands at Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Spain's Daniela Alvarez Mendoza, right, and Tania Moreno Matveeva celebrate victory in the women's round of 16 beach volleyball match between Spain and Netherlands at Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

US' Miles Evans hits the ball during the men's round of 16 beach volleyball match between USA and Norway at Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

US' Chase Budinger and Miles Evans react during the men's round of 16 beach volleyball match between USA and Norway at Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

United State's Andrew Benesh, left, and Miles Partain celebrate a point in a beach volleyball match against Italy at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Canada's Brandie Wilkerson, left, and Melissa Humana-Paredes give a celebratory pose after defeating the United States in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Canada's Brandie Wilkerson celebrates during a victory over the United States in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

United States' Taryn Kloth, top, and Kristen Nuss hug after a loss to Canada in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

United States' Taryn Kloth, left, and Kristen Nuss walk off the court after a loss to Canada in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a tiebreaking homer in his return from the injured list as the Arizona Diamondbacks bounced back after blowing a four-run lead and beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-4 on Friday night.

The Diamondbacks moved into sole possession of the NL’s second wild-card spot by taking a one-game lead over the New York Mets, who lost 12-2 to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Atlanta Braves, who lost 4-3 at Miami, are three games behind the Diamondbacks and two games behind the Mets.

“It's a good feeling, but we've got eight more games to go,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “No deal is done. We've got to go out and play our best baseball from here on out.”

Milwaukee already has clinched the NL Central title.

Arizona’s Ketel Marte hit his 33rd homer – setting a new career high – and also doubled and singled. William Contreras went 4 for 5 with a homer and Garrett Mitchell and Joey Ortiz also went deep for the Brewers.

Milwaukee rallied from a 4-0 deficit by homering off Arizona ace Zac Gallen (13-6) three times in a four-run fifth inning before the Diamondbacks took the lead for good in the sixth.

Gurriel led off the sixth by connecting on a 1-1 pitch from DL Hall (1-2) and hitting it over the wall in left center. Gurriel had been activated from the injured list earlier in the day after recovering from a strained left calf.

“It's always a great thing after the opposite team comes and scores a few runs, if you come back and — boom — hit them back, it will shut down their momentum and actually pick up momentum on our side,” Gurriel said through a translator.

His homer started a three-run rally that culminated with Randal Grichuk drawing a bases-loaded, two-out walk from Jared Koenig. Grichuk took a 3-2 pitch low to bring home Gabriel Moreno.

“You don’t win when you give up seven," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “That’s not who we’ve been.”

Rhys Hoskins and Sal Frelick opened the bottom of the sixth with consecutive singles to bring the tying run to the plate, but Kevin Ginkel retired the next three batters to keep the score at 7-4. The Brewers got the tying run to the plate but failed to score again in the seventh.

A.J. Puk worked the ninth for his third save in six opportunities.

The Brewers had gotten back into the game in the fifth by pouncing on Gallen, who hadn’t allowed more than two homers in any of his previous 26 starts this season. He entered Friday having given up a total of two homers over his last 11 starts.

Ortiz hit a one-out drive to left-center that traveled 416 feet. After Brice Turang grounded out, Jackson Chourio beat out an infield single and Contreras followed with a 409-foot homer to center. Mitchell sent Gallen’s next pitch over the wall in left center for a game-tying, 393-foot blast.

It was the first time the Brewers had homered three times in an inning since Rowdy Tellez, Brian Anderson and Mitchell went deep against three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer in the sixth inning of a 9-0 victory over the New York Mets on April 4, 2023. Gallen hadn’t allowed three homers in a game since a 5-3 loss to Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of last year’s NL Championship Series.

Gallen gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings while striking out five and walking one.

Brewers starter Colin Rea gave up three runs and five hits in four innings. He struck out four and walked one.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Gurriel was playing his first game since Sept. 1. The Diamondbacks made room for him by designating INF Luis Guillorme for assignment.

BREWERS' MOVE

The Brewers designated RHP Enoli Paredes for assignment and promoted RHP Kevin Herget from Triple-A Nashville.

UP NEXT

RHP Merrill Kelly (4-0, 4.00 ERA) pitches for the Diamondbacks and RHP Aaron Civale (7-8, 4.48) starts for the Brewers when this four-game series continues Saturday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo throws late to first base on a hit by Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy gestures before a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Arizona Diamondbacks second base Ketel Marte watches his home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Colin Rea (48) throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras, right, reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Brewers third base Joey Ortiz (3) throws out Arizona Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio, left, and Willy Adames, right, collide after Adames caught a ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Jake McCarthy during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras hits a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)