California duo Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes delivered an impressive first showing, with dominant back-to-back sets against the Czech Republic's Barbora Hermannová and Marie-Sara Stochlova.

Cheng and Hughes' partnership goes back to 2016 and 2017, when the pair won the first two NCAA beach volleyball titles ever.

After playing with different partners for several years, the pair reunited to win the 2023 world championship and now pursue the gold medal in Paris. Their next match in the preliminary rounds will be Wednesday against France.

The second half of the U.S. game against Germany may have been less aggressive than the first, but it certainly was not disappointing.

Going in with a 3-1 lead, the American women managed to keep control over the pace of the game and secure possession against the Germans. Midfielder Rose Lavelle shined through as she appeared just about everywhere on the field.

Germany had small pushes in which it appeared it was changing the momentum of the game, but none of its shots could make it past goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. Ultimately, it failed to capitalize on their opportunities.

The U.S. win has most likely advanced it to the knockouts in the Olympic quarterfinals.

Mallory Swanson and Lynn Williams exemplified teamwork in the final moments of the game against Germany to score once again just before the 90-minute mark.

Swanson made a pass to Williams just ahead of the German goal, allowing Williams to sink the ball quickly into the back of the net.

Biles' score held up for most of the qualifying round, but in the final routine of the day, she was knocked out of the uneven bars apparatus final by reigning Olympic bars champion Nina Derwael.

She qualified for every other possible final: team, all-around, vault, beam and floor.

Team USA shuttlers Vinson Chiu and Jennie Gai dropped their mixed doubles badminton match to Malaysia’s Tang Jie Chen and Ee Wei Toh.

Simone Biles' Brazilian rival Rebeca Andrade had a fantastic qualifying round in the fifth and final subdivision. She will face off against Biles in the team, all-around, beam, floor and vault finals.

Andrade is the reigning Olympic all-around silver medalist and vault champion, two events in which she'll aim to return to the podium.

Southern California native Sara Hughes was nearly too shy as a little girl to say hello to her idol, beach volleyball great Misty May, one day on the sands of Huntington Beach.

“I was so nervous. My mom was like, ‘Go run up to her, wish her luck with the Olympics and just shake her hand,’” Hughes, 24, recalled to NBC’s “The Podium.” “And I don’t know, I think I blacked out. I ran up to her and said, ‘Misty, my name is Sara. I want you to win gold in the Olympics. Good luck,’ and I ran straight back to my mom.” 

May, who paired with Kerri Walsh to win gold in 2004, 2008 and 2012, called that little girl back and gave her a wristband — which had the name of a sponsor that now backs Hughes. 

And to make the circle complete, May-Treanor will be in the press box for NBC when Hughes and teammate Kelly Cheng hit the sands for Team USA in Paris.

The second half of the U.S. matchup against Germany is underway, and the Americans continue to dominate possession of the ball.

With a 3-1 lead going into the back half of the game, the American women are showing force by trying to keep back the German team.

Germany is doing its best to play the game in the U.S. half of the field but has not been able to make significant headway as two back-to-back attempts at a goal failed.