TOKYO – The U.S. women’s volleyball team took gold in its final match against Brazil, winning in a three-set sweep and earning their first Olympic title since the sport was introduced at the Games in 1964.
In the first set, the U.S. started off hot, going on a 4-0 run with points from outside hitter Michelle Bartsch-Hackley, middle blocker Haleigh Washington and opposite Jordan Larson. Brazil swiftly responded, closing the gap to an American lead of 8-7. Led by Larson and Bartsch-Hackley, who finished the first set with six and eight points, respectively, the U.S. won 25-21.
Brazil came out strong in the second set, taking a 3-1 lead with points from outside hitter Rosamaria Montibeller and middle blocker Caroline de Oliveira Saad Gattaz. But the U.S. gained the lead and pulled ahead 11-8 after an ace from opposite Annie Drews and several key attack points from middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo. They took the second set, 25-20.
The two teams exchanged leads early in the third set, but Brazil pulled ahead 6-4 after an attack point from outside hitter Gabriela Braga Guimaraes. But the lead was short-lived, and the U.S. went on a 5-1 run led by Larson and Akinradewo to go up 9-7. The U.S. sealed their victory on the second match point and took the third 25-14.
Drews finished with a team-high 14 attack points and one block point. Larson contributed 12 attack points and Bartsch-Hackley had 11, two block points and one service. Libero Justine Wong-Orantes had seven digs.
The U.S. team has won six medals at the Olympics, including silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics, and bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Brazil had a disappointing finish on home court in Rio, finishing fifth in the tournament. They took gold in Beijing and London.
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