Italy set up Olympic final against USA
One of the most dominant teams in women’s volleyball in recent years, Italy, set up an Olympic final against USA when they defeated Turkiye 3-0 in Thursday’s semi-finals.
An Olympic Games medal is the only prize in the sport missing from Italy’s glittering trophy cabinet. The Europeans had fallen at the quarter-final stage in four of the last five Games, but are now guaranteed a first-ever Olympic medal at Paris 2024. Not only that, but they have given themselves an opportunity to win gold at the first time of asking.
Facing Turkiye for the second time in just four days, having already defeated their European rivals in the pool stage, Italy took a close opening set 25-22. They followed that up with a more comfortable 25-19 second set, and then clinched the win with a 25-22 third set.
Superstar opposite Paola Egonu showcased her abilities with a match-high 24 points, with outside hitter Myriam Sylla also contributing 12 points in the win. By contrast, Turkiye’s superstars just couldn’t get going. Melissa Vargas, fresh off her historic 42-point haul against China, could only muster 17 against Italy and was the only Turkish player to make it to double digit points.
Italy have been in impeccable form during the tournament, only dropping one set en route to the final, and will now look to become the seventh different nation to win women’s volleyball Olympic gold when they face USA.
USA’s route to the final was considerably more complicated. Having dispatched Poland in the quarter-finals, the Americans lined up against Brazil, who had not so much as dropped a set in their four matches.
That all changed in the opening set of the semi-final as USA clinched it 25-23. Brazil bounced back to take the second set 25-18 but USA regained the lead, winning the third 25-15. Brazil refused to give in, battling back to win the fourth 25-23 and force a decider, but the reigning Olympic champions, USA, proved too strong emerging as 15-11 victors in the fifth set to advance.
Outside hitter Kathryn Plummer led the way for USA with 26 points, supported by Avery Skinner who had 19 and Annie Drews with 18. For Brazil, Ana Cristina Souza led the team in scoring with 24 points, joined by Gabi Guimaraes with 16 and Rosamaria Montibeller with 14.
The win saw USA guarantee themselves a medal for the fifth straight Games, and they will look to become just the fourth women’s team to successfully defend an Olympic title.
The gold medal match will take place on Sunday 11th August, with the bronze medal match between Turkiye and Brazil taking place on Saturday 10th August.