PARIS, France, July 30, 2024.- United States was taken to a fifth set before coming away with its second win 3-2 (25-21, 25-17, 17-25, 20-25, 15-11) over Germany and Canada fell to France 0-3 (20-25, 21-25, 17-25) for its second loss in the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.
With the five-set win, the U.S. received two points and leads Pool C with five points. Germany earned one point and now has three points. The U.S. concludes pool play on Friday, Aug. 2 against the world’s second-ranked team Japan.
Canada is winless and will face Serbia on Saturday for third place in Pool A.
The match between United States and Germany was nearly even statistically with the U.S. edging Germany in blocks (8-7) and trailing slightly in kills (59-56). The key statistical advantage was behind the serving line where the U.S. led 11-6 with three of those aces coming in the fifth set. Each team scored 27 points on opponent errors. The U.S. scored three more points, 102-99.
Middle blockers Max Holt and Taylor Averill combined for 25 points and five blocks. Holt scored 13 points on nine kills, two blocks and two aces. Averill totaled 12 points on five kills, a team-high three blocks and a match-best four aces. His five kills came on seven attacks, giving him 11 kills on 13 attacks in his first two Olympic matches.
Three other U.S. players joined the middle blockers in double figures, led by outside hitter T.J. DeFalco, who totaled 18 points on 14 kills, two blocks, and two aces. Russell led the team with 15 kills and added an ace. Opposite Matt Anderson finished with 14 points on 11 kills, a block and two aces.
“It just felt like we needed a little something extra,” Holt said on his back-to-back aces in the fifth. “They were kind of punching us with their serve and I just felt like we needed a little something. I just happened to be that guy today. We have many weapons, and anybody can do it at any moment.”
As for Canada, with the fans on the stands creating a fantastic ambience at the venue, the home team secured one of the top two spots in the final Pool A standings, together with Slovenia.
France led 40-29 in kills and 9-2 in serves. Canada had a slight 9-8 advantage in blocks. Both teams committed 19 unforced errors.
Ngapeth and opposite Jean Patry shared the top scorer honours of the match with 13 points each, while Brizard impressed with a total of six aces towards a total tally of seven points.
Two players – outside Stephen Maar and opposite Arthur Szwarc – led Canada with 12 points each.
“Volleyball-wise it wasn’t great for us. I don’t think we got anything going like we wanted and we definitely didn’t play how we wanted,” said the other Canadian outside Eric Loeppky. “France is a great team and if we want anything special, we are going to have to play a lot better. But the environment was great. It was really cool to play the home team. The fans were awesome. With all our friends and family here, that was really special, but the volleyball stuff just wasn’t great tonight. I hope we figure something out for this third game. All we want to do at this point is to just play well.”
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