Big bounce back as USA men sweep Italy for Olympics volleyball bronze

PARIS — First-time Olympian Taylor Averill just shook his head.

“What an emotional roller coaster the Olympics is,” Averill said with a laugh. “I mean, dude, we’re used to playing two, maybe three games most in a row. We played six games in a short amount of time and the most emotional games of your life.

“I could not be more ready for a vacation. I’m ready.”

Well, the entire USA men’s team can take that vacation after winning the bronze medal Friday at the Paris Olympics with a sweep of Italy. And it was not just any sweep, but a knock-down, drag-out volleyball slugfest the USA happened to win.

“From point one,” TJ DeFalco said. “A dogfight.”

Quick note: Veteran opposite Matt Anderson, who at 37 had a fantastic tournament, said he’s on board to continue to Los Angeles 2028. Some of teammates, however, are likely done with national-team play, but nothing was confirmed here.

The recap follows and so do notes about the men’s gold-medal match Saturday, a semifinal women’s victory for Italy to get into the gold-medal final against the USA on Sunday, and some key stats.

USA men, DeFalco bounce back and sweep Italy

When the Americans lost to Poland in five in the semifinals on Wednesday, TJ DeFalco had his worst match of the tournament with four kills and two errors in nine attacks.

His team needed its best offensive weapon against Italy and DeFalco responded with a team-high 12 kills, including the attacks that ended each of the three sets. The 25-23, 30-28, 25-24 — and, yes, it was that close throughout — gave the USA its second bronze medal in two Olympics.

The USA won gold in 1984 and 1988, bronze in 1992, won it all again in 2008, and took bronze in 2016. In Tokyo in 2021, the American failed to get out of pool play. The goal here, of course, was a gold medal, and there was no hiding the disappointment of the loss to Poland 

“It was really hard to come after that game against Poland,” said veteran libero Erik Shoji, who had 12 digs. “Physically, mentally, emotionally, I don’t know if I was ready until right when the first point started. We all just wanted to battle as hard as we can. This group has been together a long time and we wanted to finish on a high and that’s what we did.

“It was a little stressful, but we got it done.”

That was not lost on coach John Speraw.

“I’m proud of the men…