PARIS — No one had to tell Avery Skinner that this match would be a five-set affair. She was an Olympic rookie, but she knew what to expect: A loud, 95 percent pro-Brazilian crowd, a roster full of women who can hit the ball over the net at any time, and a team that hadn’t lost a single set in the entire Olympics.
What’s not to like?
“We always have to expect it to go until five o’clock. We knew the Brazilian crowd would be crazy, they always give it their all,” said Skinner. “We knew it would be a tough fight.”
In a rematch of the gold medal match in Tokyo, the U.S. women’s volleyball team defeated Brazil 3-2 to edge out a South American power looking for revenge. The U.S. will defend its gold medal on Sunday, facing the winner of the Italy-Turkey match.
It was a wild five-set thriller full of long rallies, decisive points and fearless newcomers.
After the Americans’ first Olympic game in the group stage, a 3-2 loss to China, coach Karch Kiraly changed his starting lineup, dropping experienced outside attackers Jordan Larson and Kelsey Robinson Cook to reserve positions in favor of Skinner and Kathryn Plummer, both of whom are competing in the Olympics for the first time.
It was more than worth it. Skinner and Plummer hit the ball so hard that Kiraly likes to refer to them as his “bat lineup.” On Thursday against Brazil, Plummer led Team USA with 26 points (23 kills, two blocks, one ace) while Skinner contributed 19 points (15 kills, three blocks, one ace). Annie Drews contributed 18 points (17 kills, one ace).
“It’s so fun to see some not-so-experienced wingers like Kathryn and Avery who haven’t played a lot of high-level games like this. It’s so fun to see them just take this game by the throat,” Kiraly said. “The other team can do everything right and all of a sudden the ball goes 12 yards because they hit so hard and it bounces off the block. They give us fantastic firepower.”
Brazil hadn’t lost a set until Thursday, but they looked completely out of form in the first set against the USA, as the Americans quickly built a 6-1 lead. Brazil fought back, but all those early points helped the USA, who ultimately claimed a 25-23 set win.
Brazil made short work of the second set, winning 25-18. Then it was the Americans’ turn again. The USA built a 10-4 lead before sweeping Brazil off the court 25-15.
The teams traded points again in the fourth set before a critical service error by American Chiaka Ogbogu gave Brazil an 11-10 lead. Brazil won 25-23 when the USA committed a net violation, a decision that Team USA unsuccessfully contested, setting up a decisive fifth set.
Skinner said the U.S. felt most confident at that point. The Americans knew Brazil had come through the group stage and quarterfinals with ease. The U.S., on the other hand, had already won five sets a few times in the tournament.
“We knew we were battle-tested,” Skinner said. “We had a lot of confidence at that point.”
In the fifth set, the teams traded points again until the USA pulled away on a kill from Drews, giving the Americans a 12-8 lead. At 14-10, match point, a long surge seemed to be in the USA’s favor until Brazil saved the point at the last second, closing the gap to three points (14-11) and forcing the Americans to continue playing. They won – what else? – on an attack from Plummer.
“I’m not stressed, but I don’t know if I’m enjoying it as much as I am sitting at home,” Kiraly said of the long rallies that thrilled the crowd. “I said before the fifth set, can’t we just sit here and bask in the glory – tens of millions of volleyball players dream of playing in a fifth set for a chance at a gold medal. It just puts a smile on my face and gives me goosebumps.”
He held up his arm to prove it.
To say the Americans are peaking at the right time would be an understatement. In June, things were looking bleak: They weren’t playing well in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL), finishing seventh in the annual international competition. The starting lineup was constantly changing, and two players were sent home with injuries.
But the players kept reminding each other that Paris was the end of their journey.
“Everything we’ve been through this summer hasn’t been easy,” Skinner said. “I’m just proud of how we’ve kept rising to the challenge. Of course we wanted to get a great result at VNL, after that there was a bit of a setback (mentally). But we had a turning point. We had four days off and then we came back to the gym and said we’re going to work hard for what’s ahead.”
“You see that now.”
Email Lindsay Schnell at [email protected] and follow her on social media @Lindsay_Schnell
With the USA TODAY app, you can keep up with all of Team USA’s medals as they’re awarded. Download full Olympic coverage, crossword puzzles, audio storytelling, eNewspapers and more.
