Olympics: US take volleyball gold in straight sets over Brazil

Tokyo, Japan – At the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, the US women’s volleyball team finally got over the hump, beating Brazil in the gold medal game on Sunday.

Team captain Jordan Larson scored the match point for Team USA to win gold over Brazil on Sunday.
Team captain Jordan Larson scored the match point for Team USA to win gold over Brazil on Sunday.  © IMAGO / Agencia EFE

Team USA finally won in the final match against Brazil, earning their first-ever Olympic gold medal on the volleyball court.

They were able to sweep the Brazilians in straight sets (25-25, 25-20, 25-14), becoming the third team to win gold with a three-set sweep.

The first two sets had both teams trading handfuls of points, but each time the Brazilians threw a wave at the US, the Americans withstood and held Brazil at bay.

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Set one belonged to Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (31) as she scored eight kills to help take the opening frame.

Haleigh Washington, Annie Drews, and Justine Wong Orantes kept the momentum going in the second set, never trailing Brazil to go up two sets to none.

The wind was gone from Brazil’s sails in the third set. They had trouble just breaking into double-digit points, but by the time they did, Team USA was comfortably ahead and well on their way to victory.

Three-time Olympian and team captain Jordan Larson scored the match point to end set 3 and make dreams of Olympic gold a reality.

The gold medal victory gives the United States 39 golds, which is one more than second-place China on the medal count.

Cover photo: IMAGO / Xinhua

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