PARIS — Eight years is a very long time. Particularly within the life of a professional volleyball participant.
That wasn’t misplaced Saturday on Aaron Russell as he rode the USA crew bus to its Olympics-opening match towards Argentina.
“My spouse really despatched me a message earlier than the match that was fairly lengthy, pumping me up. I bought a bit bit emotional,” Russell stated, getting a bit emotional once more. “However I needed to pull it collectively.”
Which he did. In an enormous approach.
The 6-foot-9 exterior hitter, who performed for the USA when it received bronze in Rio however was injured for Tokyo in 2021, had 13 kills and three aces because the Individuals opened Paris Olympics play with a 25-20, 25-19, 25-16 steamrolling of Argentina.
Russell, the product of Ellicott Metropolis, Maryland, who starred at Penn State, had only one error in 20 assaults to hit .600.
“It’s nice to have him again,” USA setter Micah Christenson stated with an enormous smile. “He’s an unsung celebrity on this crew. He deserves far more consideration than what he will get. He’s unbelievable for us.”
USA coach John Speraw agreed.
“He’s an incredible participant. Good to have him on our crew,” Speraw stated. “It’s good that he’s wholesome and enjoying very well. I’ve to really feel actually good for him after an eight-year break and I understand how a lot he wished to be part of this final time and couldn’t.”
Russell, 31, would have been good to go in Tokyo had it not been for COVID. However that was in 2020. In April of 2021, he had surgical procedure on his proper hip. The Olympics have been out.
“I’m actually comfortable to be again,” he understated.
5 months in the past, his spouse, Kendall Pierce, one other former Penn State star, gave start to their daughter Riley. Russell admitted that was a part of why he bought emotional on the bus Saturday.
“I’m again right here once more, however it was simply enjoyable to compete in that environment,” Russell stated, “and see the fellows enjoying so exhausting. This can be a second we’ve been ready for all summer time, and even the entire quad for 3 years. It’s wonderful.”
And good for the coach.
“It’s particular being an Olympian,” Speraw stated. “It’s particular to do it as soon as. We’ve a bunch of men who’ve gotten to do it on a number of events, however I feel for him, who has this expertise and talent to be a multi-Olympian, I’m happy with him for persevering with to get wholesome and develop with this crew and are available right here and be higher than he was again in Rio.”
USA, Japan, Italy, Poland all win
The Individuals have been nicely conscious of what occurred in Tokyo, after they swept France within the Olympics opener. France went on to win the gold medal; the USA did not advance to the quarterfinals. So nobody was too giddy about beating Argentina, however it was fairly a formidable efficiency within the Area Paris Sud 1.
“We additionally beat France final time in a really related approach and that didn’t work out so nicely,” Speraw stated with fun. “I don’t want to enter the locker room and promote the crew that it is a one-match-at-a-time type of match.”
The USA hit .500 with 38 kills and 7 errors in 62 assaults.
TJ DeFalco added 9 kills with one error in 12 swings to hit .667, a block, and one in all his 4 aces was a vicious court-seeking missile that ended the second set.
Taylor Averill, enjoying in his first Olympics, had six kills in as many assaults and two blocks, veteran Matt Anderson had six kills and a block, and Max Maintain had 4 kills and two blocks.
“In all probability couldn’t have scripted it like that as a result of you may have a lot respect for Argentina and the extent of play that’s on this pool and the way good all of the groups are on this planet,” Speraw stated. “So for us to get off to a begin like that is actually good for us and I feel it helps our confidence.”
Speraw stated his crew’s pre-Video games journey, with a few friendlies, to Poland paid off and it actually confirmed on all aspects of protection.
“I really feel actually good that there are a pair matches underneath our belts the place we have been actually strong in that facet of the sport,” Speraw stated. “Once we cross like that mixed with the protection is why we received in three.”
Argentina bought seven kills apiece from Facundo Conte and Bruno Lima and 6 every from Augustin Loser and Luciano Palonsky.
Subsequent up for the USA is Germany on Tuesday. Argentina performs Japan on Wednesday.
Talking of which, earlier in Pool C, Germany upset Japan on Saturday with a hard-fought 25-17, 23-25, 20-25, 30-28, 15-12 comeback.
Italy then beat Brazil in Pool B 25-23, 27-25, 18-25, 25-21 earlier than Poland swept Egypt 25-21, 25-19, 25-13.
Sunday’s Olympic volleyball schedule
The ladies take the court docket with Italy vs. the Dominican Republic at 9 a.m. Paris time and Poland vs. Japan at 1 p.m.. Then it’s the France males vs. Serbia at 5 — which ought to have the venue rocking — and the Slovenia males vs. Canada at 9.
