This post was updated Aug. 12 at 1:31 a.m.
The United States men’s national volleyball team is back on the Olympic podium.
After finishing 10th at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Team USA swept Italy 3-0 to take the bronze medal in the men’s volleyball tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Friday.
The U.S.’ defeat of the reigning world champions marked the third Olympic bronze medal in American history and UCLA men’s volleyball coach John Speraw’s second medal of the color in the Games of his coaching career.
UCLA alumni Erik Sulivian – who was the team’s leader through the Games – Micah Ma’a and Garrett Muagututia represented the U.S. on the court alongside Speraw to win its first Olympic medal since 2016. The bronze medal in Paris also marked the first Olympic laurel for all three UCLA alumni.
The U.S. started its campaign undefeated after knocking out Argentina, Germany and Japan in the preliminary rounds. After sweeping the pool play competition, the U.S. took on Brazil in the quarterfinals, easing past the Brazilians 3-1.
Proficient on all fronts, the Americans notched 66 kills on an efficient .512 clip and garnered eight more assists than their Brazilian counterparts. After successfully advancing to the semifinal round, Team USA found its toughest opponent of the tournament in Poland.
The Polish and Americans traded wins in the first two sets, as each frame was decided by just two points, the second of which required extra time. After decisively bagging the third set 25-14 because of injuries on the Polish side, the Americans seemed to have let momentum get the better of them.
Poland, meanwhile, had opposite fate as it kicked into its last gear to take the final two sets 25-23 and 15-13, respectively.
Errors and inefficiency on the court ended up being Team USA’s kryptonite as it finished the match with three more opponent errors and two fewer service aces than Poland.
Despite a semifinal exit, Speraw kept medal hopes alive for the Americans.
Team USA bulldozed through Italy on both sides of the net for a clean sweep of the bronze medal match. The Americans registered 16 more digs, four more blocks and seven fewer errors compared to the Italians and outhit them with a .455 clip.
With U.S. men’s volleyball’s bronze medal finish in Paris, it earns its third medal of the 21st century, with two coming under Speraw.
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