Avery Skinner helps lead USA Volleyball past Brazil to gold medal match

We knew today’s USA vs. Brazil semifinal match would be intense, as the two countries have faced off in three of the last four Olympic gold medal matches. Thanks in large part to former Kentucky volleyball star Avery Skinner, Team USA survived the back-and-forth battle and will defend its gold medal on Sunday.

Skinner was once again stellar, starting and playing a key role in the 3-2 victory (25-23, 18-25, 25-15, 23-25, 15-11). She finished with 19 points on 15 kills, behind only Kathryn Plummer, who had an incredible 26 points on 23 kills. Skinner also had 20 total receptions, 10 digs, three blocks, and an ace. Through four matches, Skinner has 61 points on 53 kills, 59 receptions, five blocks, and three aces.

Skinner added another set winner to her fantastic Olympics debut, putting away the third set for Team USA. Brazil would fight back to forth a fifth set, but USA eventually pulled away for the win, with Plummer scoring match point.

ONE SET AWAY from the gold medal match. 😤

Avery Skinner puts away the third set for Team USA. #ParisOlympics

📺 NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/W8WXwCPWFZ

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2024

KATHRYN PLUMMER WINS IT. 🇺🇸

The United States is headed BACK to the gold medal game to defend their title! #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/TB0DpmwByt

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2024

Skinner and Team USA will face the winner of Turkey and Italy in the gold medal match on Sunday morning (7 a.m. ET). Team USA won its first Olympic gold in Tokyo three years ago, beating Brazil. In Rio in 2016, they won bronze, and in both the 2012 and 2008 Olympic games, brought home silver.

Go Avery. Go Cats. Go USA.

Cats in Paris Schedule

Skinner’s big match is just one part of a busy day for former Kentucky Wildcats in Paris. This afternoon, former Kentucky track stars Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (400mH) and Daniel Roberts (110mH) will go for gold in the finals of their events, along with incoming transfer Tapiwanashe Makarawu (200m). Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, Anthony Davis, and Team USA will also look to advance to the gold medal game in the semifinals vs. Serbia.

Here’s the complete schedule:

Thursday, August 8

• DIVING — 4:00 AM: Women’s 3m Springboard Semifinal (Julia Vincent, South Africa — ADVANCED); E!; Peacock
• WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL — 10:00 AM: United States (Avery Skinner — ADVANCED) vs. Brazil; Semifinals; NBC, Peacock
• TRACK & FIELD — 2:30 PM: Men’s 200m Final (Tapiwanashe Makarawu, Zimbabwe); NBC, Peacock
• MEN’S 5×5 BASKETBALL — 3:00 PM: USA (Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, Anthony Davis) vs. Serbia vs. Serbia; Semifinals; NBC, Peacock
• TRACK & FIELD — 3:25 PM: Women’s 400mH Final (Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, USA); NBC, Peacock
• TRACK & FIELD — 3:45 PM: Men’s 110mH Final (Daniel Roberts, USA); NBC, Peacock

Friday, August 9

• TRACK & FIELD — 4:40 AM: Women’s 4x400m Relay Round 1 (Alexis Holmes, USA); USA, Peacock
• TRACK & FIELD — 6:05 AM: Women’s 100mH Semifinal (Masai Russell, USA; Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Puerto Rico; Devynne Charlton, Bahamas); USA, Peacock
• DIVING — 9:00 AM: Women’s 3m Springboard Final (Julia Vincent, South Africa); NBC, Peacock
• TRACK & FIELD — 2:00 PM: Women’s 400m Final (Alexis Holmes, USA); NBC, Peacock

Saturday, August 10

• TRACK & FIELD — 1:45 PM: Women’s 100mH Final (Masai Russell, USA; Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Puerto Rico; Devynne Charlton, Bahamas); USA, Peacock
• TRACK & FIELD — 3:22 PM: Women’s 4x400m Relay Final (Alexis Holmes, USA); NBC, Peacock
• MEN’S 5×5 BASKETBALL — Bronze and Gold Medal Games

Sunday, August 11

• WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL — 7:00 AM: United States (Avery Skinner) vs. Turkey/Italy; Gold Medal Match; NBC, Peacock