Olympics beach volleyball: Cheng-Hughes outlast Gottardi-Menegatti in thriller

Kelly Cheng doesn’t do much with her fingernails.

Good thing, too.

On Sunday evening in Paris during their first-round playoff matchup with Italians Marta Menegatti and Valentina Gottardi, the length — or lackthereof — of the 6-foot-2 blocker’s nails was every bit as critical as her serving and siding out.

Up 13-11 in the third set, Gottardi swung wide in transition — just over the block of Cheng.

Or did it nip her fingers?

Italy challenged, looking for a touch off the block...