China's Zhu Ting delivers the match-winning spike against the U.S. © Twitter (@VoiceofPD)
PARIS In a captivating display of resilience, the Chinese women’s volleyball team outlasted the reigning Olympic champions, the United States, in a gripping five-set match during the group A play at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
The match began unfavorably for the Americans, as China surged ahead, winning the first two sets with scores of 25-20 and 25-19. The U.S. squad, however, demonstrated their tenacity and came roaring back. They claimed the third set 25-17 and fought hard in the fourth, recovering from a 13-10 deficit to force a tiebreaker.
The final set was a dramatic affair, with both teams exchanging leads. The American team, led by a strong performance from Haleigh Washington, saved crucial points and eventually led 21-20, thanks to a decisive ace from Washington. Despite their efforts, China’s Zhu Ting delivered the match-winning spike, clinching the victory after the Americans had staved off two match points.
American setter Jordyn Poulter expressed pride in her team’s ability to recover and fight back. You either win or you learn, Poulter said. We have a lot we can improve on and don’t want to peak too early.
Blocker Haleigh Washington noted the significance of the match, stating, Going five with a team like China is incredible, and squeezing out any point we can get in the pool is going to be important for us.
The American team will complete its preliminary round by facing Serbia on Wednesday and hosting France on Sunday. The top two teams in each pool and the top two teams overall will move on to the knockout stage, when every point counts.
Coach Karch Kiraly praised the team’s effort. It highlights how thin the margins are and how we must care for some of these little plays. I want to give our team huge credit for fighting back. Returning from down 2-0 against an excellent China team can be challenging.
The team, which lost only one match in pool play in Tokyo and swept the knockout stage to secure its first-ever gold medal, now faces a challenging path to maintaining its Olympic title defense in Paris.