The U.S. Men’s National Team was tantalizingly close to playing for a gold medal, but Italy dashed their hopes. Now, the team has shifted its focus to the bronze medal and has dubbed bronze as the new gold. After a hard-fought Olympic semifinal match against Italy, which ended in a 30-28, 26-28, 9-25, 25-22, 15-9 loss, the U.S. Men (4-3) will face Russia (5-2) in a bid for the bronze medal on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. EDT. Italy (6-1) will battle Brazil (5-2) for the gold medal.
U.S. outside hitter Taylor Sander acknowledged the disappointment of not achieving the desired gold, but he still sees an opportunity to win a medal, which is an incredible achievement in itself. The U.S. Men’s National Team will give their all to secure third place.
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In the match against Italy, the U.S. Men had their chances. They dominated the third set with a 25-9 victory and held a 22-19 lead in the fourth set. However, Italy went on a 6-0 run, with opposite Ivan Zaytsev serving three consecutive aces to seal the set. U.S. outside hitter Taylor Sander acknowledged the missed opportunity but believes that this experience will make the team stronger.
U.S. Head Coach John Speraw expressed his disappointment with the outcome but praised his team’s effort. He emphasized that the match could have gone either way and commended his players for their hard work and dedication.
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The first set saw the U.S. Men leading 15-8 and seemingly in control at 23-19. However, Italy staged a comeback and tied the set at 23-23. The U.S. Men had five set points before Italy won on two consecutive aces from Emanuele Birarelli.
The second set was a close battle, with Italy leading 21-18 at one point. However, the U.S. Men fought back and reached set point first at 24-23. Italy managed to score on two straight kills, causing the U.S. Men to lose a set point due to a violation. The set eventually went to the U.S. at 26-26 with an ace from Anderson.
In the third set, the U.S. Men dominated with an 18-4 lead, thanks to David Lee’s nine-point serving streak.
Italy’s serving proved to be a challenge for the U.S. Men, as Italy had 10 aces compared to the U.S.’s five. Both teams were tied in kills, with 58 each, while the U.S. led in blocks with 16 compared to Italy’s 7.
Matt Anderson was the top scorer of the match, contributing 25 points with 18 kills, two blocks, and five aces. Middle blocker Max Holt also had a strong performance, adding 16 points with 10 kills and six blocks.
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Looking ahead, the U.S. Men’s focus now shifts to the bronze medal match. Max Holt expressed his determination to regroup and fight for the bronze medal. The team sees this as an opportunity to leave the Olympics with a medal and will give their all in pursuit of third place.
FAQs
Q: Who will the U.S. Men’s National Team face in the bronze medal match?
A: The U.S. Men’s National Team will compete against Russia for the bronze medal.
Q: What were the key moments in the match against Italy?
A: The U.S. Men had several key moments, particularly in the fourth set when they had a 22-19 lead. However, Italy went on a 6-0 run, securing the set with three consecutive aces from Ivan Zaytsev.
Q: How did the U.S. Men’s National Team perform overall in the match?
A: Despite the loss, the U.S. Men’s National Team put up a strong performance. Head Coach John Speraw expressed his satisfaction with his team’s effort and emphasized that it came down to a few crucial plays.
Summary
The U.S. Men’s National Team may have missed out on the opportunity to play for a gold medal, but they are now focused on securing the bronze. After a thrilling match against Italy, which ended in a loss, the team will face Russia in the bronze medal match. Despite the disappointment of not achieving their desired gold, the U.S. Men remain determined to leave the Olympics with a medal. Head Coach John Speraw praised his team’s effort and acknowledged that the match could have gone either way. With Matt Anderson leading the scoring and Max Holt’s strong performance in blocks, the U.S. Men are ready to regroup and battle for third place.
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