PARIS – Karch Kiraly, coach of the United States women’s volleyball team, had one simple request as the crucial fifth set began: Regardless of the outcome, make sure to enjoy the moment. He urged the players to soak in the atmosphere as they faced Brazil, one of the most formidable teams in world volleyball. Now, Kiraly’s American team will have another chance under the bright Olympic lights—a chance to repeat their gold medal success from Tokyo. This required outstanding effort from each player as they battled the experienced Brazilians. “It’s a bit sad for one of the teams to lose a match like this, as both programs are legendary regarding consistently high levels of play in major tournaments like the Olympics and World Championships,” said Kiraly after the nail-biting semifinal.
The USA and Brazil delivered an unforgettable five-set thriller at the South Paris Arena, where the American women’s team nearly bested their recent victory over Brazil in Tokyo, which was won in straight sets. With this win, the Americans can now aim for their second Olympic gold medal. The match concluded with scores of 25-23, 18-25, 25-15, 23-25, 15-11, after Brazil came close with a score of 12-10 in the deciding set. As Kathryn Plummer’s winning spike secured her match-high 26th point, the Americans erupted in celebration. They will now compete in the final on Sunday, while Brazil will vie for bronze on Saturday against the loser of the late match between the top-seeded Italy and the third-ranked Turkey.
Brazilian fans waved flags and sang as they cheered for their team. “They have given us so much energy,” said Brazilian attacker Julia Bergmann about the support from the fans. “We will also fight for them.” The Brazilian players also have a long history on the big stage, with several, including 37-year-old middle blocker Thaísa, having played for over a decade.
Both teams contributed fantastic saves and intensity, especially in the thrilling fifth set, where one rally lasted over 30 seconds. Kiraly introduced new players into the starting lineup after a loss to China earlier in the tournament, which proved to be a successful strategy. “We just focused on playing our game,” said Plummer.
With this victory, the USA has the opportunity to secure another gold medal, while Brazil must shift focus to the bronze medal match. “We fought well, it was a really good match. But now we have to refocus and go for the bronze,” Bergmann concluded.
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