Sponcil and Claes bounced from Olympics, world reacts to controversial ending

The Americans' challenge was successful, and their Olympic hopes were still alive.

Until they weren't.

Team USA women's beach volleyball and its pairing of UCLA's Sarah Sponcil and USC's Kelly Claes had been leading early on, and it seemed to be in a prime position to beat Canada and advance to the quarterfinals. The Americans won the first set of their round of 16 match and led 10-4 in the second.

Canada stormed back to force a third set, however, and that's where the match went off the rails.

Sponcil rose up for a serve, but it was called out by the linesman and the US went down 13-11. With the ball being so close to the tape and their backs being up against the wall, Team USA challenged and the call was overturned, tying the deciding set at 12 apiece.

Canada elected to challenge the result of the challenge, a challenge they ended up winning to retake the 13-11 they held moments earlier.

Sponcil & Claes were victims of a bad call. They may not have won even with the call, but when you lose by 2 pts, 1 pt makes a huge difference. Ball originally called out, reviewed, called in, then re-reviewed and called out. Watch the sand pop! #beachvolleyball #Olympics pic.twitter.com/FIr4ELjuOS
— Mitch Carr (@mitchcarrtv) August 1, 2021

A few points later, the Canadians clinched the match, eliminating the youngest American pair ever to qualify for the Olympics.

Fans, reporters and talking heads made their thoughts known about the hotly-contested ending immediately following the result. A blend of confusion, frustration and disbelief dominated the online discourse.

So, in beach volleyball, the US challenged, won it, and then Canada challenged the challenge and won? I don’t understand it at all. Claes and Sponcil don’t, either.
— Maggie Hendricks (@maggiehendricks) August 1, 2021

US challenged a ball out call, was ruled in. Made it 12-12 in 3rd set.

Canada was allowed to challenge the challenge and it was ruled out, making it 13-11.

Absolutely horrid officiating.#BeachVolleyball #Olympics https://t.co/KliFOhYzck
— Korey Hanover (@KoreyHanover) August 1, 2021

I'm still sitting here trying to figure out what just happened to the US in #beachvolleyball.

Canada scores.

US challenges.

Call overturned.

Canada challenges the challenge (???)

Ref overturns the overturn (!!!)

US gets yellow card for saying it's stupid. pic.twitter.com/S6VmVSapkf
— Micah Rumsey (@MicahRumsey) August 1, 2021

Sponcil put up 14 digs and three kills in the match, while Claes notched six and 29, respectively. The pair had 11 errors compared to Canada's 18.

There is still one pair of American women remaining in the bracket with eight left standing – April Ross and Alix Klineman.

Follow Connon on Twitter at @SamConnon
Follow All Bruins on Twitter at @SI_AllBruins
Like All Bruins on Facebook at @SI.AllBruins