The USA men, who failed to get out of pool play last summer in the Tokyo Olympics, took it to Brazil on Wednesday in the Volleyball Nations League quarterfinals.
The 20-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-17 victory in Bologna, Italy, put the USA into the VNL semifinals for the third time in tournament history and first since 2019. That year the USA lost in the final.
“It wasn’t perfect volleyball, but it was winning volleyball,” USA coach John Speraw said, “and when you can win those matches when everything isn’t going perfectly well, that’s an experience you can grow from.”
The Americans will play the winner of Thursday’s match between Poland and Iran.
In the other match Wednesday, Italy beat the Netherlands 21-25, 25-22, 25-13, 25-22. The Italians get the winner of France-Japan.
“We’re excited to be back in medal contention,” Speraw said. “This team deserves it, we’ve been there in the past.
“We did not have the results we were hoping for in Tokyo, so it’s good to be back the following summer and be in a medal match. A semifinal, a medal match, is really good for us. The team has a different feel. Obviously there are a lot of players that were with us a long period of time who are not here right now.”
Speraw mentioned Max Holt, Kawika Shoji, Dustin Watten, Taylor Sander (who has turned to pro beach volleyball) and superstar Matt Anderson, whom the coach said will return to the USA team for the World Championships later this summer.
“So this team has a very different vibe and different leadership is stepping in and taking charge and I really like what I’m seeing,” Speraw said. “Good leadership skills, good team chemistry, and it’s good to be back in that place and winning matches. I think it’s exceptionally valuable to have that quarterfinal experience and to win one.”
The outsides carried the USA offensively against Brazil. TJ DeFalco had 16 kills, hitting .413, an ace and two digs. Aaron Russell had 14 kills, hitting .461, and 12 digs.
Middle David Smith had eight kills with no errors in 11 attacks to hit 727 and had three blocks and five digs, and the other middle, Jeff Jendryk, had six kills with no errors in 10 swings, two blocks and two digs. Opposite Kyle Russell had eight kills, hitting .375, and digs digs, and Kyle Ensing had four kills, a block, an ace and three digs.
Setter Micah Christenson had 34…
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