United States wins bronze in men's volleyball with straight-set win over Italy at Paris Olympics

The United States added another medal to the count for the 2024 summer Olympics in Paris with a three-set win over Italy in the bronze medal match in the men’s volleyball tournament. And the 3-0 score belies how Team USA was pushed by a top-notch Italian squad.

In all three sets, the Italians and Americans went back and forth, neither squad ever leading by much more than a point or two. But in these grinding, close sets, the United States managed to prevail by thin margins.

And now the United States has added a bronze medal to the tally for Paris in 2024.

After taking the first set, 25-23, the second set got to 25-25 and someone needed to win two points in a row to take the set. On the fifth set point, the United States finally hammered home a kill to take a 2-0 lead that proved too much for the Italians.

And in the third set, the Americans were rolling. They began dominating the serve, particularly with red-hot Matt Holt starting the points from the back line. It quickly turned into a 7-2, then 9-5 lead in the third set. But the Italians fought back, bringing the set even and playing to a 21-21 tie late in the action, then 23-23.

Even when Team USA got to match point, leading 24-23 in the third set, the Italians managed to save it and fight a little longer.

But just as they had the prior two sets, the United States had just a bit more in the tank and killed the set and won the match — and a bronze — with a 26-24 win in the third set.