The USA males will be a part of the USA girls in Paris.
Not that there was a lot doubt that each groups can be within the 2024 Olympics, however the males clinched their spot Saturday by sweeping Serbia within the Highway to Paris Volleyball Qualifier in Tokyo.
The 25-18. 25-18, 25-17 victory left the Individuals 6-0 with now one meaningless match to play, Sunday in opposition to host Japan.
“I’m actual pleased with the crew,” USA coach John Speraw informed us from Tokyo. “That they had an unimaginable match, they performed an unimaginable match tonight. Our offense was nearly as good as I’ve seen all of it summer season.”
There have been 5 gamers with six kills every. Matt Anderson and Jeff Jendryk had 9 kills every, Aaron Russell had eight, Max Holt seven (and 4 aces) and TJ DeFalco six.
“We had been passing the ball rather well and (setter Micah Christenson) was simply good,” Speraw stated. “Even when Serbia was making some nice swings we might simply go facet out.”
The USA roster has been constant all 12 months as Speraw put all concentrate on attending to Paris.
In Volleyball Nations League, the Individuals obtained to the ultimate earlier than shedding in 4 to host Poland.
Final month, they gained NORECA gold for the primary time since 2017.
“It’s been an excellent summer season for us and we proceed to enhance in quite a lot of totally different sides of the sport,” Speraw stated. “We’re changing into a way more full crew and tougher crew to beat.
“I’m actually happy with the work the lads have put in and the way exhausting they’ve been centered on getting higher. It’s a veteran crew and generally with veteran groups there’s rather less willingness to do new issues and I believe that’s not been the case with this group. I believe we’ve actually strived to proceed to enhance and I believe the outcomes present.”
On this match, the USA swept Egypt and Finland, beat Türkiye in 4, swept Tunisia after which beat Slovenia in 4.
Two groups from every pool make the 12-team Olympic match. Defending Olympic-champion France will get an computerized bid as host and the remaining 5 spots shall be crammed subsequent 12 months.
In Pool B of this match, the USA stood two video games up within the win column on Japan and Slovenia — who performed one another later Saturday — with one to play, adopted by Serbia and Türkiye at 3-3. Egypt is 2-4, Finland 1-5 and Tunisia 0-6. Sunday, along with USA vs. Japan, Slovenia performs Serbia with their bid on the road.
In Pool A, with matches later Saturday in Rio, Germany is 5-0 and Italy and Brazil are 4-1. Germany performs Qatar, Italy performs Cuba and Brazil performs Iran. Brazil performs Italy on Sunday and Germany performs Ukraine.
In Pool C in China, Poland — which beat the Netherlands — additionally clinched with Belgium and Canada tied at 4-2. Sunday, Belgium performs Bulgaria and Canada faces Mexico.
“We’re clearly thrilled,” stated Speraw, whose crew beat France to open the Tokyo Olympics, however then misplaced within the quarterfinals. France went on to win the gold medal.
“We’ve yet another match left and are going to play exhausting however then we’re going to have fun attaining an excellent aim and an excellent summer season with a pleasant VNL run and a gold medal in NORCECA and now qualifying for the Olympic Video games. It’s been an excellent summer season of 2023 and we stay up for the summer season of 2024.”
The USA girls, who gained the gold medal in Tokyo in 2021, clinched their Paris bid in Poland final month.
