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olympicsAugust 9, 2024

PARIS (AP) — Four-time U.S. Olympians Matt Anderson and David Smith are medalists once more.

JANIE McCAULEY, Associated Press
Players of the United States celebrate after scoring a point during the men's bronze medal volleyball match between the United States and Italy at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
Players of the United States celebrate after scoring a point during the men's bronze medal volleyball match between the United States and Italy at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Italy's players celebrate after scoring a point during a men's volleyball bronze medal match between Italy and the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Italy's players celebrate after scoring a point during a men's volleyball bronze medal match between Italy and the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Alessandro Michieletto, of Italy, spikes a ball during a men's volleyball bronze medal match between Italy and the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alessandro Michieletto, of Italy, spikes a ball during a men's volleyball bronze medal match between Italy and the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Aaron Russell, left, and Taylor Averill, of the United States, react after losing a point during a men's volleyball bronze medal match between Italy and the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Aaron Russell, left, and Taylor Averill, of the United States, react after losing a point during a men's volleyball bronze medal match between Italy and the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Torey Defalco, of the United States, reacts during the men's bronze medal volleyball match between the United States and Italy at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
Torey Defalco, of the United States, reacts during the men's bronze medal volleyball match between the United States and Italy at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)ASSOCIATED PRESS
United States' players react after losing a point during a men's volleyball bronze medal match between Italy and the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
United States' players react after losing a point during a men's volleyball bronze medal match between Italy and the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)ASSOCIATED PRESS
United States' players celebrate after scoring a point during a men's volleyball bronze medal match between Italy and the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
United States' players celebrate after scoring a point during a men's volleyball bronze medal match between Italy and the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Left, Matthew Anderson, Maxwell Holt, and Torey Defalco, of the United States, block a ball during the men's bronze medal volleyball match between the United States and Italy at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
Left, Matthew Anderson, Maxwell Holt, and Torey Defalco, of the United States, block a ball during the men's bronze medal volleyball match between the United States and Italy at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Players of Italy celebrate after scoring a point during the men's bronze medal volleyball match between the United States and Italy at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
Players of Italy celebrate after scoring a point during the men's bronze medal volleyball match between the United States and Italy at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Left, Matthew Anderson, Maxwell Holt, and Aaron Russell, of the United States, block a ball during the men's bronze medal volleyball match between the United States and Italy at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
Left, Matthew Anderson, Maxwell Holt, and Aaron Russell, of the United States, block a ball during the men's bronze medal volleyball match between the United States and Italy at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)ASSOCIATED PRESS

PARIS (AP) — Four-time U.S. Olympians Matt Anderson and David Smith are medalists once more.

They came back for this chance.

The Americans are taking home men's volleyball hardware from the Paris Olympics, outlasting Italy in a wild, back-and-forth battle for bronze on Friday.

It went 25-23, 30-28 — a sensational second set in which each country had multiple chances — and 26-24 at a rocking South Paris Arena.

Once Torey DeFalco's clincher point was scored, longtime libero Erik Shoji's arms shot into the air in triumph as others fell to their knees. Then after shaking hands with Italy, they all took turns giving long hugs to the coaches and support staff.

No doubt, No. 4 Italy vs. the fifth-ranked U.S. made for quite a matchup.

Facing a match point, Italy tied it up at 24 in the third in a long rally in which both teams made great plays to keep it going. Then, after a service error by Italy, the Americans closed it out on their next chance.

Both teams were vying for their first medal in eight years, since the Rio de Janeiro Olympics where the Americans also took home bronze and Italy lost to Brazil in the championship.

The Americans had to regroup in a hurry from the heartbreak of a five-set loss to No. 1 Poland two days earlier. And this was a long time coming after they failed to even advance from group play in Tokyo three years ago.

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One of the youngest teams in Brazil, a handful of the U.S. players decided to return for another run after the disappointment of their early exit in Japan.

Italy led 21-20 in the opening set, and the U.S. needed two set points to close it out after being up 24-22.

Then the Americans led 20-17 in the second set before Italy rallied to go ahead 21-20. Italy had a 24-23 lead but Roberto Russo's serve sailed long, only for Taylor Averill to also miss his serve.

France will face world No. 1 Poland in Saturday’s gold-medal match.

The Americans won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and then finished fifth in London before the bronze in Rio.

Anderson and Smith led an experienced group on the Olympic stage.

And might Anderson consider making another run at the Olympics in Los Angeles four years from now at age 41?

“We'll see,” he said this week, “we'll see.”

___

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

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