Going for gold! USA women defeat Brazil in 5 in Olympics volleyball semifinals

PARIS — They’re back in the last match of the tournament and going for gold, and, no, they’re not defending their Olympic gold medal.

The USA women are trying win another one and get to do so Sunday afternoon against Italy.

But Thursday they just needed a burst, something to put some pressure on Brazil.

It never happened in the fourth set of the 25-23, 18-25, 25-15, 23-25, 15-11 victory.

The Americans trailed 6-4 in the fifth set of the Olympics women’s volleyball semifinals and it happened.

Avery Skinner, a first-time Olympian, tooled the block to make it 6-5.

Then, in a most spectacular, frenzied rally, reserve setter Lauren Carlini, another first-time Olympian, in as part of the USA’s double sub, made a couple of remarkable digs off Brazi’s Rosamaria Montibeller. 

“She’s one of our players who has embraced her role and is one of the best defensive setters in the world,” opposite Annie Drews said. “And she’s just out there doing her thing. I tell her all the time that it’s like a dog playing fetch, watching Lauren play defense.”

The point ended on another kill by Skinner.

On the next play, Carlini fetched another dig and Jordan Thompson, the other half of that double sub, who comes in for setter Jordyn Poulter after Carlini goes in for opposite Annie Drews, finished the point with a kill. The Americans had their first lead of the set.

Not quite breathing room, but the charge was on.

Brazil tied it on a kill by Thaisa, the USA went ahead 8-7 on another kill by Skinner, and Brazi tied it again on a kill by Gabi.

Then came the breathing room. Chiaka Ogbogu, a second-time Olympian who played sparingly when the USA won the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, hit a quick from Poulter. Suddenly the lead was two when Brazil setter Roberta Ratzke was called for a double.

An unhappy Brazil coach Ze Roberto called time, but it didn’t help. Ana Cristina, the Brazilian superstar who finished with 22 kills, sailed an attack out of bounds and then Drews crushed a ball to give the USA a 12-8 lead.

It took the edge off a decidedly raucous pro-Brazil crowd and Ze Roberto called time again, but the damage was done, although Ana Cristina got a kill and Ana da Silva blocked another first-time Olympian, Kathryn Plummer, who had the match of her life, considering the circumstances, with 23 kills, two blocks…