PARIS, France (11 August 2024) – After another incredible Olympic run, the U.S. women took home the silver medal after losing 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-17) to Italy in the gold medal match on the final day of the Paris Olympics on Sunday.

The Tokyo gold medalists now lead the former Soviet Union 7-6 all-time medals and have won a medal at each of the last five Olympics. The gold medal was the first Olympic trophy for Italy, which won the Volleyball Nations League title earlier this summer and dropped just one set in the tournament, winning its last 17 sets.

Chiaka Ogbogu was named the best middle blocker of the Paris 2024 Dream Team.

“We accomplished so much in this tournament that we are proud of,” said U.S. head coach Karch Kiraly. “But of the three medal-winning teams, (silver) is the only one to finish with a loss. There is a bittersweet aspect to that.”

The U.S. women (4-2), ranked fifth in the world before this year’s Olympics, reeled off four straight wins to return to the final after a 3-2 opening loss to China in group play. They defeated reigning world champions Serbia in group play, fourth-ranked Poland in the quarterfinals and world number one Brazil in the semifinals. The silver medal is the fourth for the U.S., which finishes the Olympics in third place.

“I think for those of us who were in Tokyo, it was more like what we imagined a typical Olympic experience would be,” said US setter Jordyn Poulter. “I think the city of Paris did a phenomenal job of organizing it.”

“We were able to play our best volleyball throughout the tournament and I was hoping we would get there at the end of this quad.”

Substitute Jordan Thompson led the USA in scoring with eight kills and outside hitter Avery Skinner added seven. Opposite hitter Annie Drews scored six points with five kills and an ace and outside hitter Jordan Larson played as a substitute and finished with five kills and six digs. Thompson also totaled six digs while setter Jordyn Poulter and Drews each added five.

Libero Justine Wong-Orantes was the best player with 15 digs. Skinner had the highest score of the game with 15 successful catches, Wong-Orantes had six.

Italy led in kills (45-35), blocks (11-0) and aces (7-3) and made five fewer errors (17-12). Italy’s Paola Egonu finished her brilliant Olympic match with 22 points on 18 kills and four blocks.

GAME-BY-GAME

A block by Italy quickly put the USA behind 5-1 in the opening set and forced an early timeout. Another block extended the lead to six points, 12-6, and led to a second timeout. The lead grew to eight points, 15-7, with an ace.

The USA used an Ogbogu ace and a Washington kill on a slide to enable a 4-0 USA run, but another block by Italy ended the run. A fourth block by Italy prevented the USA from getting within three points at 16-12.

A Thompson kill and a hitting error by Italy after the U.S. front row sent back two attacks cut the deficit to three points, 19-16, but Italy scored the next two points after a timeout to regain a five-point lead. Italy closed the set on a 6-2 run. Italy posted a .324 batting average in the opening set, while the U.S. posted a .071 batting average. Skinner (three kills) and Drews and Ogbogu (two kills, one ace) each scored three points.

A Larson kill gave the U.S. a 3-1 lead in the second set before Italy went on a 6-2 run to get within two points. Larson tied the set with a kill to make it 8-8, but Italy scored four of the next five points to take its first three-point lead of the set and force the U.S. to take a timeout. An ace gave Italy its largest lead of the set, 21-16, and the U.S. could get no closer than four points. Larson led the team with four kills, while Skinner and Thompson each contributed three kills. After two sets, Italy had a .400 batting average and a 68 percent passing percentage, while the U.S. had a .183 batting average.

A hitting error gave the USA a 6-5 lead, its longest lead in a set, but Italy scored seven points in a row to take a 12-6 lead. A ninth block by Italy extended the lead to six, 15-9. A kill by Thompson cut the lead back to four, 15-11, but the USA could not get any closer. Thompson scored three kills in the set.

US women’s squad for the Olympic Games Paris 2024

No. Name (Position, Size, Hometown, College, USAV Region)
2 Jordyn Poulter (S, 6-2, Aurora, Colorado, University of Illinois, Rocky Mountain)
3 Avery Skinner (OH, 6-1, Katy, Texas, University of Kentucky, Lone Star)
4 Justine Wong-Orantes (L, 5-6, Cypress, California, University of Nebraska, Southern California)
7 Lauren Carlini (S, 6-2, Aurora, Illinois, University of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
10 Jordan Larson (OH, 6-2, Hooper, Nebraska, University of Nebraska, Great Plains)
11 Annie Drews (Opp, 6-4, Elkhart, Ind., Purdue Univ., Hoosier)
12 Jordan Thompson (Opponent, 6-4, Edina, Minnesota, University of Cincinnati, North Country)
15 Haleigh Washington (MB, 6-3, Colorado Springs, Colo., Penn State University, Rocky Mountain)
16 Dana Rettke (MB, 6-8, Riverside, Illinois, University of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
22 Kathryn Plummer (OH, 6-6, Aliso Viejo, California, Stanford Univ., Southern California)
23 Kelsey Robinson Cook (OH, 6-2, Bartlett, Illinois, University of Nebraska, Great Lakes)
24 Chiaka Ogbogu (MB, 6-2, Coppell, Texas, Univ. of Texas, North Texas)

Alternatives
1 Michael Hancock (S, 5-11, Edmond, Oklahoma, Penn State Univ., Oklahoma)
6 Morgan Hentz (L, 5-9, Lakeside Park, Kentucky, Stanford University, Pioneer)
13 Sarah Wilhite Parsons (OH, 6-2, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, University of Minnesota, North Country)
14 Anna Stevenson Hall (MB, 6-2, Laurens, SC, University of Louisville, Palmetto)
29 Khalia Lanier (OH/Opp, 6-2, Scottsdale, Arizona, Univ. of Southern California, Arizona)

Head coach: Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coach: Tama Miyashiro, Erin Virtue, Alfee Reft
Consultant Coach: Marv Dunphy
Physiotherapist/Sports Trainer: Kara Kessans
Strength and conditioning coach: Brandon Siakel
Performance Analyst: Rianne Verhoek
Team leader: Coley Pawlikowski
Mental performance coach: Katy Stanfill
Cultural Advisor: Susanne Enquist
Nutritionist: Shawn Hueglin
Masseur: Ricardo Brambila
Team doctor: Lori Boyajian-O’Neill – Psychiatric Clinic

US Women’s Schedule for Paris 2024
(All times are PT)
July 29: China defeats USA 3:2 (25:20, 25:19, 17:25, 20:25, 15:13)
July 31: USA defeats Serbia 3:2 (25:17, 25:20, 20:25, 14:25, 17:15)
August 4: USA defeats France 3-0 (29:27, 29:27, 25:20)
August 6, quarterfinals: USA defeats Poland 3-0 (25:22, 25:14, 25:20)
August 8, semi-final: USA defeats Brazil 3:2 (25:23, 18:25, 25:15, 23:25, 15:11)
August 11: Gold medal, Italy defeats USA 3-0 (25:18, 25:20, 25:17)