Poland’s players pose for a team photo after winning the volleyball men’s quarter-final match between Slovenia and Poland during the Paris Olympics 2024 at the South Paris Arena 1 in Paris on August 5, 2024. Poland won the match 3-1. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP)
Poland dismantled Slovenia in men’s volleyball of the Paris Olympics 2024 on Monday to finally free itself of the quarterfinal curse that has haunted the team for the last five editions of the Summer Games.
The top-ranked team in the world has struggled to reach the Olympic podium since winning gold in 1976, consistently being eliminated in the last eight since the 2004 Athens Olympics.
THE OLYMPIC CURSE IS OVER FOR POLAND 🇵🇱!
This is Kurek’s reaction after the final point to bring back Poland 🇵🇱 to the Olympic semifinals after 4️⃣4️⃣ years.
➡️ They will play the winner of USA 🇺🇸 🆚 🇧🇷 Brazil.
🏐 #gangłysego #Paris2024 #volleyball @Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/6GyMBsLowk
— Volleyball World (@volleyballworld) August 5, 2024
The duo of Wilfredo Leon and Bartosz Kurek raked in 20 and 19 points respectively to lead Poland’s 25-20, 24-26, 25-19, 25-20 victory over the world No. 4.
Meanwhile, outside hitter Klemen Cebulj led Slovenia’s quarterfinal effort with 16 points.
US RETURNS TO FINAL FOUR
USA’s players pose for a team photo after winning the volleyball men’s quarter-final match between USA and Brazil during the Paris Olympics 2024 at the South Paris Arena 1 in Paris on August 5, 2024. USA won the match 3-1. (Photo by Natalia KOLESNIKOVA / AFP)
Poland will next face the United States, which later overpowered the 2016 Olympic champions Brazil in four sets to return to the semifinals
Champions in 2008 and bronze medalists in 2016, Team USA had failed to reach the semifinals in Tokyo after a disappointing 10th-place finish.
Team USA veteran Matt Anderson spearheaded the Americans’ 26-24, 28-30, 25-19, 25-19 win over Brazil with 20 points, while TJ Defalco and Maxwell Holt chipped in 16 and 13 points.
Meanwhile, the trio of Alan Souza, Ricardo Lucarelli, and Flavio Gualberto scored 16, 15, and 11 points respectively to lead Brazil in their quarterfinal match.
ITALY MOUNTS INCREDIBLE COMEBACK
Italy’s team poses for a photo after winning the volleyball men’s quarter-final match between Italy and Japan during the Paris Olympics 2024at the South Paris Arena 1 in Paris on August 5, 2024. Italy won the match 3-2. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP)
Down two sets and on the brink of elimination, Italy dug deep and successfully staged a five-set comeback over Japan to keep its campaign for an elusive Olympic gold alive.
Led by team captain Simone Giannelli, Italy held off three match points by Japan in the third set to eke out a 20-25, 23-25, 27-25, 26-24, 17-15 win.
Outside hitter Alessandro Michieletto led the scoring effort for Italy with 24 points, while Daniele Lavia and Yuri Romano tallied 19 points each.
Meanwhile, Yuki Ishikawa scored 32 big points for Japan, the only Asian team in the Olympic men’s volleyball event. Yuji Nishida and Ran Takahashi also contributed 22 and 16 points.
FRANCE REVERSE SWEEPS GERMANY
France’s players pose for a team photo after winning the volleyball men’s quarter-final match between France and Germany during the Paris Olympics 2024 at the South Paris Arena 1 in Paris on August 5, 2024. France won the match 3-2. (Photo by Natalia KOLESNIKOVA / AFP)
Italy will next face host country France, which also fought back from two sets down to reach the semifinals with a five-set victory over Germany.
Backed by the home crowd in their quarterfinal match, the world No. 5 French mounted a 18-25, 26-28, 25-20, 25-21, 15-13 win to keep their Olympic title defense alive.
REVERSE SWEEP 🧹 BY FRANCE 🇫🇷!
Here’s the reaction after winning the point 🤯.
🚨 Score & stats: https://t.co/AwGM1fuDKA
🛍️ Buy your own Olympic #Volleyball : https://t.co/ka1N7n1c8f
🏐 #Paris2024 @Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/mMUMlRTHBQ
— Volleyball World (@volleyballworld) August 5, 2024
The duo of wing spikers Earvin Ngapeth and Trevor Clevenot fronted the defending champions’ quarterfinal triumph with 21 and 20 points respectively.
On the other hand, Gyorgy Grozer led all scorers for Germany with 22 points.
The semifinal clashes between the four teams will be played on Wednesday, Aug. 7, at the South Paris Arena 1 in Paris, France.