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U.S. women’s volleyball team exits world champs before medal round

By Nick ZaccardiOct 15, 2018, 9:13 AM EST
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More: Olympics

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The U.S. women’s volleyball team didn’t get to play for a medal of any color in its world championship title defense.

The Americans were bounced in the penultimate, six-team round with five-set losses to China and the Netherlands. China, the Netherlands, Italy and Serbia will play for the medals later this week.

The U.S., which won its first major tournament title of any kind at the last worlds in 2014, squandered a two-set lead 30-32, 15-25, 25-22, 25-15, 15-9 to the Dutch on Monday in Nagoya.

“Ultimately the result is very disappointing,” U.S. coach Karch Kiraly said, according to USA Volleyball. “They made some changes and we wasted chances in the third set. You have to be good at converting those chances against a team like the Netherlands.”

The U.S. came into the tournament as No. 2 in the world in the most recent rankings from August 2017, trailing only Rio Olympic champion China. It had also won the other global event of 2018, the first Nations League, in the spring and early summer.

At worlds, the Americans won their first seven matches before trouble in the second round last week. They lost back-to-back matches to China (a sweep) and Italy to limp into the third round, where they lost to China again and the Netherlands on back-to-back days.

The fifth- or sixth-place finish will be the U.S.’ lowest result at an Olympics, world champs or World Cup since 2006. It earned medals at each of the last three Olympics but has never taken Olympic gold.

MORE: U.S. men’s volleyball team ends world champs medal drought

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U.S. men end volleyball worlds medal drought; Poland repeats as champion

AP
By Nick ZaccardiOct 1, 2018, 10:55 AM EST
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The U.S. men’s volleyball team heads into the Olympics as a world championship medalist for the first time since the Atlanta Games, taking bronze at the quadrennial tournament that wrapped Sunday.

The Americans, after losing to eventual world champ Poland in the semifinals, came back to beat Serbia 23-25, 25-17, 32-30, 25-19 in the bronze-medal game, its first world medal since 1994.

The U.S. played Serbia 17 hours after its five-set semifinal loss that ended at 11:53 p.m. in Torino.

“It’s really hard to play bronze-medal matches; we unfortunately know that,” said U.S. coach John Speraw, referencing the Rio Olympics, where the U.S. blew a two sets-to-one semifinal lead over Italy but overcame a 2-0 deficit to down Russia for bronze. “I didn’t get to sleep until 4 in the morning.”

The U.S. roster of 14 included eight Rio Olympic bronze medalists. Micah Christenson was named best setter of the tournament. Matt Anderson was best opposite.

Later Sunday, Poland repeated as world champion, sweeping Olympic gold medalist Brazil in the final. The Brazilians reached the final of the last five worlds and the last four Olympics.

In 2014, Poland had an epic run to gold, claiming its first title since 1974 and becoming the first host nation since Czechoslovakia in 1966 to prevail. Poland was fifth at the 2012 Olympics and ranked fifth in the world before that tournament.

More than 12,000 spectators watched that gold-medal final inside Spodek Hall, including the Polish president. More than 15,000 followed it outside the arena on big screens, according to the FIVB.

This Olympic cycle is the first for the U.S. men without any ties to its 2008 Olympic champion team (so far). The two gold medalists who made the Rio roster — David Lee and Reid Priddy — spent the summer playing beach volleyball on the AVP tour.

The U.S. last earned a world title in 1986.

MORE: U.S. volleyball’s ‘Slugger’ goes from coaching to MVP

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U.S. men’s volleyball team reaches world championship medal round

U.S. men's volleyball
FIVB
By Nick ZaccardiSep 27, 2018, 12:39 PM EST
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The undefeated U.S. men’s volleyball team swept Russia to reach the final four of the world championship in Italy on Thursday.

The Americans are guaranteed their best finish at the quadrennial worlds since their last medal, a bronze in 1994. The U.S.’ lone world title came in 1986, though it since earned Olympic titles in 1988 and 2008.

They’re joined in the medal round by Rio Olympic champion Brazil and two of Italy (Rio silver medalist), Serbia and Poland (defending world champ). The U.S. (9-0) is the only remaining undefeated team, after downing Russia 25-22, 25-23, 25-23.

Semifinals are Saturday, and the gold- and bronze-medal matches are Sunday.

The U.S. has been paced by tournament stat leaders setter Micah Christenson, outside hitters Aaron Russell and Taylor Sander and opposite Matt Anderson, all bronze medalists from Rio.

This Olympic cycle is the first for the U.S. men without any ties to its 2008 Olympic champion team (so far). The two gold medalists who made the Rio roster — David Lee and Reid Priddy — spent the summer playing beach volleyball on the AVP tour.

MORE: U.S. volleyball’s ‘Slugger’ goes from coaching to MVP

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