Edhat Staff
Team USA’s Chase Budinger and Santa Barbara native Miles Evans breathed new life into their Olympic campaign, securing a pivotal victory in the beach volleyball “lucky loser” match. The win propels them into the round of 16 at the iconic Eiffel Tower Stadium, marking a significant milestone in their journey at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Facing off against Australian duo Thomas Hodges and Zachery Schubert, the American team displayed resilience and skill, clinching the match with scores of 21-19 and 21-17. This triumph not only advances Budinger and Evans in the tournament but also solidifies their position as one of the two lowest seeds in the fiercely competitive bracket.
The road ahead, however, presents a formidable challenge. The American pair is set to compete against the reigning Olympic champions, Anders Mol and Christian Sorum of Norway. The Norwegian team has been in extraordinary form, sweeping through the pool play in Paris without conceding a single set, a testament to their seemingly invincible partnership on the sand.
The victory over the Australians was a dramatic affair, with Budinger and Evans rallying from a two-point deficit at 18-16 in the first set. A decisive four-point streak, highlighted by two critical blocks from Budinger shifted the tide in favor of the Americans.
Evans and Budinger will face off against Mol and Sorum at 5:00 a.m. on Monday for the Round of 16. If successful they’ll face the winner of the Poland and Spain match for the quarterfinals.
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Go Miles go!!
…sadly it wasn’t meant to be:
The Olympics debut of Evans and former NBA player Chase Budinger came to an end in Paris on Monday as the pair was defeated by defending gold medalists Anders Mol and Christian Sorum of Norway in the Round of 16 (21-16, 21-14).
🙁