Team USA Members Engage in Viral Volleyball Rally — See Who Qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics

There are few things more exciting than an incredible sporting match, and a viral video of Team USA’s women’s volleyball doubles is perfect proof. Keep scrolling to learn more about the players and to watch the action.

Viral Team USA volleyball rally video

The members playing for Team USA in the viral video were Olympic hopefuls and partners, Sara Hughes and Kelley Kolinske. Playing against Ecuador at the Beach Volleyball World Championships, Hughes and Kolinske did not let that volleyball touch the ground — even if it meant hitting the ground themselves and back up to keep playing.

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Watch the video here: 

Kolinske and Hughes first started playing as a duo in 2022 and had an incredible partnership together. The viral volleyball rally, which took place at the 2022 Manhattan Beach Open in August, landed them the title of champions.

Both Kolinske and Hughes put some work into that win, with Hughes defending the entire court and Kolinske ready to spike over the net. Upon their win, Kolinske shared to Instagram, “WHAT A FEELING!! Manhattan Beach Open 2022 Champs!!!” while Hughes wrote, “Forever on the Manhattan Beach Pier….”

Sara Hughes and Kelley Kolinske’s volleyball partnership has changed

It seemed that things were going very well for Kolinske and Hughes, but the two have since parted ways. Hughes announced via Instagram that she would be reuniting with her former partner from college, Kelly Cheng, much to the surprise of everyone.

The former partners were together from 2012 until 2018, playing in youth tournaments together and taking on the college volleyball scene. The duo was on fire, but split up to pursue the Tokyo Olympics with different partners.

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“It was a lot of the unknown and being young and kind of immature and listening to maybe outside forces and not really knowing how to deal with things as well,” Hughes explained of the breakup.

Cheng went on to make her Olympic debut in Tokyo with partner Sarah Sponcil. Hughes partnered up with Summer Ross, but that pair did not make it to the games.

“One of the biggest obstacles I've had to overcome was being eliminated from the Tokyo Olympics because of a partner injury,” Hughes explained of losing out on her Olympic dreams.

But now Cheng and Hughes have reunited to take on the 2024 Paris Olympics together.

Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng are going to the Paris Olympic Games

Hughes and Cheng have officially qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris this summer and the duo is ready to bring home the gold. In fact, it’s a dream they have been waiting all of their lives for.

“Since I was 8 years old, my goal was to always represent USA and go to the Olympic Games,” Hughes shared in an interview.

Cheng also explained how it feels to make it to the games. “What does it mean to be an Olympian? It's a very surreal feeling getting to go compete on the biggest stage against the rest of the world with your country on your back,” she shared. “To fight for an Olympic gold medal, I think is something like 0.001 percent of people get to do, so it's a really special feeling.”

There is also a very special video of the moment Hughes tells her family she is officially going to Paris. “So, mathematically, we’ve officially qualified!” Hughes shared in a tearful speech with her family breaking out into cheers.The duo shared the news in a joint Instagram post on May 10, which is captioned, “It’s official! See you in Paris this Summer!! ???????? #olympics #paris2024 #teamusa.”

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