They joined the US soccer squad as one of the top-ranked American women’s teams to fall short of the gold medal. 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.
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The U.S. team won the first set but Serbia, driven on by their formidable spiker Brankica Mihajlovic, took control after America’s top-scoring middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo went off with a left knee injury sustained in the opening set.
The Netherlands shined playing in its first Olympics since 1996 in Atlanta, where they finished fourth and surprised many as the Dutch put women’s volleyball on the map with their gutsy, never-give-up style.
“We are going after the bronze, that’s our goal now”, said USA captain Christa Dietzen, with tears in eyes as she recalled the distraction caused to her team by Akinradewo’s injury. The set went back and forth, until USA setter Alisha Glass started dictating play, repeatedly setting up Foluke Akinradewo for big spikes. After winning the world championship a year ago, the team arrived in Rio as the heavy favorite and went undefeated in pool play. “It cuts deep. It’s very painful, and that’s OK”, U.S. coach Karch Kiraly said.
The Americans dominated early in the first set, capitalizing on Serbian mistakes and looking like the much stronger team. We made it. This is history.
“‘We get some time to grieve”, Kiraly said.
Outside hitter Jordan Larson contributed 12 points with nine kills on 26 attacks, two blocks and an ace.
Their third consecutive gold-medal match was around the corner when taking a 10-7 lead.
“Our team has a great culture and dynamic”.
“That’s what we want, of course”.
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“One thing that we would like to accomplish, and it’s not going to happen this month”, Kiraly said.
