U.S. exits beach volleyball in Paris sans medal after men's QF loss - ESPN

PARIS — Miles Partain and Andy Benesh couldn't stop the slide so the United States is leaving beach volleyball at the Paris Olympics without a medal for the first time.

The 21-14, 21-16 loss to the Qatari team of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan in the quarterfinals on Wednesday made it the first American medal shutout since the sport was added to the Olympic program at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Partain and Benesh carried American hopes with both women's teams and the other men's team already out of the tournament.

«I wish one of our teams did (win a medal),» Partain said. «We did the best we could.»

Benesh said the lack of American medals in the sport at the Paris Games was not necessarily because of a drop in the team's level, but more because the general standard of play has gone up.

«It's a little bit different than it was 20 years ago. There's a lot of competition around the world,» Benesh said. «As a fan of beach volleyball it's fun to watch, people are playing with different styles in men's and women's (competition).»

The American pair led 12-11 in the first set at Eiffel Tower Stadium, but some sloppy shot-making allowed the Qataris to pull away. Younousse and Tijan drew roars from the night-time crowd with some of their improvised moves.

«Qatar played really well,» Benesh said. «We just didn't execute as well as them.»

The Qataris still have a chance to do better than in Tokyo three years ago, when their bronze was the first Olympic medal in beach volleyball for any Middle Eastern country.

«We are living our dream. We don't have any expectations, we are just dreaming,» Younousse said. «It's an amazing opportunity to play here in front of the Eiffel Tower with this amazing atmosphere.»

Defending men's champions