A day after the top-ranked US women’s volleyball team was knocked out of gold medal contention, the American men followed suit on Friday.
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“A day after the USA women’s volleyball team fell in the semifinals in Rio, the men’s team went up against Italy with a spot in the final on the line”.
Two-time defending Olympic champion Brazil was ousted in a five-setter by China in the quarterfinals.
With roughly 46 hours in between matches, United States of America is taking notes from fellow Americans Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross, who faced the crushing heartbreak of defeat in the beach volleyball semifinal and had to get over the disappointment to play the following night for the bronze. They won the World Championship in 2014 and took silver in the last two Olympics, losing both finals to Brazil, who were eliminated by China on Tuesday.
It was a sad outcome for the US, who have risen to become the world’s best and were within reach of the gold. But it was not meant to be, as the Americans were upset by Serbia in a razor-thin five-set semifinal contest, with a 15-13 score in the deciding set.
The women’s indoor volleyball tournament is down to its final two matches at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Undefeated in Rio going into the match, the 7-1 squad will now play the Netherlands for bronze on Saturday.
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Serbia, competing for Olympic medals for the first time, will face China who are playing for their third gold after overcoming the Netherlands in four sets.
