The men's volleyball tournament gets underway on the first day of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
With a new format -- the field is now split into three pools of four countries rather than two pools of six -- and an absolutely loaded field, the tournament promises to be thrilling.
Japan, the second-ranked team in the world, faced off against 11th-ranked Germany to get the tournament started in Pool B.
Pool C: Germany 3, Japan 2
In an eye-popping upset to begin the men’s volleyball slate at the Paris Olympics, Germany stunned No. 2-ranked Japan, 3 sets to 2, in a thriller at South Paris Arena.
Germany is competing in men’s volleyball at the Olympics for the first time since the 2012 London Games. The Germans entered these Olympics as the world No. 11 and were not widely expected to escape past pool play. But dominant net play on Saturday, fueled by an 18-8 advantage in blocks, powered the German side to victory.
Germany opened impressively on Saturday, dominating the first set 25-17. Japan flexed its muscle shortly after, however, taking a 2-1 lead entering the fourth set. Germany then rallied to win a 30-28 thriller to force a fifth set, which they dominated to seal up their first victory in Olympic men’s volleyball since the 2012 London Games.
Continuing Pool C play, Germany faces the U.S. at 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Japan’s Olympic schedule continues Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. ET against Argentina.
Pool B: Italy 3, Brazil 1
Two titans of men's volleyball faced off in the second match of the 2024 Paris Olympics as third-ranked Italy faced seventh-ranked Brazil to open play in Pool B. Both countries are looking to become the first in Olympic history with seven medals in men's volleyball. Italy enters as one of the favorites to take home its first-ever gold, while Brazil is trying to redeem itself after crashing out of pool play in Tokyo.
After taking the first set, the Italians would extend their lead in an epic second set. Italy got up 18-13, but Brazil brought it back to take a 25-24 lead. However, Italy would win the three straight points it needed behind 22-year-old superstar Alessandro Michieletto and win the set 27-25.
Brazil kept itself alive in the third behind its own 22-year-old superstar, Darlan Souza, who willed the Brazilians to a 25-18 win.
The Italians would respond and assert themselves in the fourth to lock down the match with a 25-21 set win.
With the 3-1 victory, Italy earned itself three points and put itself in great position to advance from the group. The Italians face Egypt in their next match Tuesday at 3 a.m. ET.
After coming up empty with zero points on Matchday 1, Brazil will have to dig itself out of a hole in Pool B. It only gets tougher as the Brazilians face top-ranked Poland in their next match Wednesday (3 a.m. ET). Brazil will desperately need to come away with points in that match if it wants any chance of advancing to the knockout rounds.
Pool B: Poland 3, Egypt 0
Poland enters the tournament as the top-ranked team in the world and is hoping this will finally be the year it reverses its Olympic fortunes. The Polish have gone out at the quarterfinal stage in the last five Olympic games and have not won a medal since they took gold in 1976. Entering in tremendous form, they look to be the team to beat in Paris.
They showed why in their opening straight-sets win against the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, Egypt.
The Egyptians managed to keep it close early on in the first set, but once Poland got the score up to 14-10 it never looked back and took the set 25-21.
The second set was very close and Egypt even held the lead at one point. The sides went back and forth and were tied at 13 before Poland won four straight points to take command of the set, winning 25-19.
The Polish showed their might in a dominant third set and proved they are the favorites for gold. Tied 7-7, Poland won six straight points and did not relent, winning the set 25-13 to take the match. The Polish attack was extremely efficient behind 13 points from Wilfredo Leon and 12 from Mateusz Bieniek's.
Next up for Poland is a matchup with Brazil Wednesday at 3 a.m. ET, while Egypt has a matchup with third-ranked Italy at 3 a.m. ET Tuesday.
Pool C: USA 3, Argentina 0
Team USA kicked off its redemption campaign with a dominant win over the reigning bronze medalist, Argentina.
The Argentinians knocked out the Americans in Tokyo, sending Team USA crashing out of pool play for the first time since Sydney 2000.
The Americans were led on this night by Aaron Russell--who missed the Tokyo Games with an injury--and his 16 points in attack. Torey DeFalco was right behind him with 14 points in attack.
Team USA took the first two sets in commanding fashion, 25-20 and 25-19, but it was the third set where they really asserted their dominance. Argentina led 5-4 early, but the Americans reeled off a 21-11 run to close out a straight-sets win 25-16.
The Americans now lead Pool B with three points, while Germany is a spot behind with two points. The Americans take on the Germans in their next match Tuesday at 7 a.m. ET, while Argentina faces Japan Wednesday at 7 a.m. ET.