The pairing faced the challenge of their compatriots Kelly Claes and Brittany Hochevar at the 4 star status International Volleyball Federation event.

Claes and Hochevar had earlier stunned top seeds Melissa Humana-Paredes and Sarah Pavan of Canada 21-18, 21-16.

They proved unable to repeat their achievement, though, as Hughes and Ross clinched a 21-19, 21-12 win to reach the last four.

The Americans are due next to face Australia’s Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho, who battled to a 21-12, 11-21, 15-9 win over Canada’s Heather Bansley and Brandie Wilkerson.

Poland’s Kinga Kolosinska and Katazyna Kociolek triumphed 22-20, 21-13 in their third round match against Germany’s Kim Behrens and Sandra Ittlinger.

They are now scheduled to meet Brazil’s Maria Antonelli and Carolina Solberg Salgado, who beat China’s Fan Wang and Xinyi Xia 21-13, 16-21, 15-8.

The men’s main draw began today with the pool stages being contested.

United States’ Philip Dalhausser and Nick Lucena justified their status as the pairing to beat.

They won both their Pool A matches to qualify for the first round, including a tough match against Spain’s Raul Mesa and Christian García, who they eventually beat 29-31, 21-13, 21-19.