American duo Budinger and Evans secure spot in Paris Olympics knockout round

The American men's volleyball scene at the 2024 Paris Olympics is heating up as two US teams have successfully advanced to the knockout round. Chase Budinger and Miles Evans secured their spot in the Round of 16 after defeating Australia's Zachery Schubert and Thomas Hodges in a gripping Lucky Loser Match. The American duo displayed an impressive performance, winning in straight sets (21-19, 21-17) and keeping their medal aspirations alive, reports Sports Yahoo.

It's worth noting that Budinger and Evans join fellow American duo Miles Partain and Andy Benesh in the knockout stage, marking a successful run for the United States in the men's volleyball competition. Their collective goal is to become the first American men's team to medal in beach volleyball since the 2008 Games in China.

After a tough defeat against Spain's Pablo Herrera and Adrian Gavira in the pool play, Budinger and Evans had a score of 1-2. This set the stage for their decisive match against Australia. Despite the early dominance displayed by Schubert and Hodges, Budinger's exceptional performances at the net shifted the momentum. With incredible blocking and pivotal points, the American team managed to turn the game around and clinch the first set with a 21-19 victory.

The second set saw Budinger's continued impact, securing valuable points for his team and building a comfortable 19-13 lead. Fans witnessed an impressive save from Evans, who made a remarkable dig to deny Australia a crucial point. This fantastic play propelled the Americans to a 19-15 advantage, sealing the victory in straight sets.

Looking ahead, Miles Partain and Andy Benesh are scheduled to face Italy's Paolo Nicolai and Samuele Cottafava in the Round of 16 on Monday. Chase Budinger and Miles Evans, on the other hand, are poised to take on either Norway's Anders Mol and Christian Sorum or Qatar's Ahmed Tijan and Cherif Younousse in their upcoming match.

As American men's volleyball progresses in the 2024 Paris Olympics, excitement builds around their prospects for a medal finish. The teams' resilience, determination, and skill are capturing the attention of fans worldwide as they display their prowess on the court.

Earlier SSP reported that Jeremiah Azu's dreams were dashed by 100m disqualification at Olympics.