The calendar turned to August on Thursday as the 2024 Paris Olympics volleyball tournament turned towards its final matchday.
Thursday's slate features four games on the women's side of the tournament with Turkiye-Dominican Republic, Brazil-Japan, Italy-Netherlands and France-China.
Pool C: Italy vs. Netherlands
Italy, the No. 1 team in the world entering Paris, launched a strong attack to start the match. The Italians won the first three points behind play from Ekaterina Antropova. A strong net game kept Italy out in front for much of the first set, but the Dutch consistently remained within a few points in what became an epic first set.
The opening set remained razor thin throughout, and the teams each faced multiple set point opportunities. In particular, the Dutch fought off some juicy Italian opportunities, evening the set on three separate set point opportunities for Italy down the stretch.
After those three chances, with Italy leading 28-27, the world leaders finally broke through to take the first set 29-27. Fittingly, it was Antropova who hammered home the set-winning kill, her 13th.
The exhilarating Set 1 finish turned into a smothering start to Set 2. The Italian squad had their way, slicing and dicing an outmatched Dutch team. Antropova continued to shine, winning the first three points, and was joined by Sarah Luisa Fahr and Celeste Plak in maintaining Italy’s commanding lead. The Netherlands never got closer than five in the second set. Antropova continued to dominate, bringing her total to 20 kills through two sets.
Trailing two sets to none, the Dutch played with renewed energy to start the third, scrapping to an early 6-5 lead. The Italians muscled their way back to the lead, however, and remained in command throughout. Leading 23-19, Antropova drilled her 30th kill of the night to set up match point at 24-19. On the next serve, the dominant Italy block sealed it and secured a 3-0 sweep victory.
Pool C: Turkiye 3, Dominican Republic 1
Entering the Olympics Pool C always looked on paper like the toughest in the women's bracket. With four teams of the top 11 teams in the world rankings, there was never going to be an easy match.
Turkiye learned that the hard way in its first match after it needed five sets to get past the Netherlands, coming from behind after losing the first two sets.
The Turks learned the hard way again against the Dominican Republic, falling behind 23-16 in the first set before dropping it, 25-21. The Dominican Republic's attack was very balanced behind Gaila Ceneida Gonzalez Lopez, who led the way with five points in the first set. The Dominicans were also efficient, going 14/37 in the first set on the attack.
Turkiye completely flipped the script in the second, getting the offense rolling by going 18/30 on the attack. The defense was also extremely stout in the set with 14 digs compared to the Dominican's four. Melissa Teresa Vargas led the way through two with 16 points on an insanely efficient 15/20 attacking and added six digs for good measure.
Up 21-15 at one point, Turkiye looked to be cruising in the third, but the Dominican Republic pulled it back within a couple points at 24-22. Luckily for Turkiye, Vargas — the team's superstar — was there once again to finish it off with yet another emphatic kill, her 11th point of the set. She had more points in the third set alone (11) than her next highest teammate, Eda Erdem Dundar, had through three sets (10).
From there it was all Turkiye as the European nation steamrolled past the Dominican Republic in the fourth set behind Vargas, 25-15. Vargas finished with 36 points on 26/46 including two blocks, three aces and 10 digs. Erdem finished as the next highest scorer with 14 points, even with DR high scorer, Brayelin Elizabeth Martinez.
Turkiye pretty much locked up a place in the knockout rounds with five points through two matches and faces Italy Sunday at 3 a.m. ET in its final match of pool play. With its second loss, the Dominican Republic is eliminated and will face Italy in its final match of the tournament Saturday at Friday at 3 a.m. ET.
Pool B: Brazil 3, Japan 0
This game was a revenge match for Brazil after it was knocked out by Japan in the semifinals of this year's Volleyball Nations League. It was also a unique matchup of playing style, with Brazil's combination of size and power pitted against Japan's incredible defending and creativity.
On this day, Brazil's style won out in a big way, as it exacted its revenge with a dominant straight-set win over Japan.
No player put their size and power on display early more than Brazil's Ana Cristina, who had five points on three kills and two blocks in the first set. Gabi also put on an incredible attacking display in the first set, flooring five massive swings out of seven attempts. The first set was tight, but Brazil pulled away late behind that pairing to win the set 25-20.
The Brazilians sprinted out to an 9-4 lead in the second set behind Ana Cristina, who had six of their first nine points. Gabi stayed hot with six more points in the set and Brazil was even hotter, rolling through Japan 25-17.
The third set was even more dominant for Brazil as Gabi just took over the match. She finished with 17 points on 16/35 swings and Ana Cristina was right behind her with 15 on 13/28. Brazil's defense was just as good as its offense, as Japan finished the day just 32/111 on swings thanks in part to 58 digs from Brazil.
Brazil clinched its spot in the knockout rounds with the win and is tied atop the group with Poland at six points. Those two face off to decide the group winner Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. It will be a long road back for Japan, which still has no points after two matchdays. A matchup with Kenya Saturday at 3 a.m. ET awaits, and it will need a win to have any chance of advancing to the knockout rounds.
Pool A: China 3, France 0
China's women's volleyball team cruised past France on Thursday evening for a straight-set win in their second Group A match at the Paris Games.
The three-time Olympic Champion commanded the match from the start ultimately besting the host country 25-18, 25-16 and 25-19.
The win propels China into the quarterfinals of competition, joining Brazil, Poland, Italy and Turkiye, who have also secured spots in the knockout round. China has an additional match in group play remaining, a bout against Serbia slated for Sunday, Aug. 4.