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Speraw, Ma'a, Muagututia Win Bronze in Paris
August 09, 2024 | Men's Volleyball
PARIS, France – Team USA and UCLA men's volleyball head coach John Speraw, and former student-athletes Micah Ma'a (2016-19) and Garrett Muagututia (2007-10) earned the Olympic bronze medal with a 3-0 (25-23, 30-28, 26-24) win over Italy on Friday morning.
With the win, Coach Speraw has now coached two Olympic bronze medal winning teams, having also coached Team USA to a bronze medal finish in Rio in 2016. Micah Ma'a, in his first Olympics, earned his first medal, while Muagututia took home a medal for the first time in his second Olympics after also competing for Team USA in Tokyo. Erik Sullivan (1992-95) also helped Team USA to the bronze as the team leader for the squad in Paris.
The Americans opened strongly in the first set, going point-for-point with Italy. Down 17-18, the U.S. won the next 2 points, courtesy of a huge block to take a 19-18 lead. Italy, however, earned the next three points to take a 21-20 lead. After the teams exchanged points, Anderson was facing a triple block but hit a sharp ball cross court to make it 24-22. Italy defended one set point, but TJ DeFalco's second kill on the next point gave the U.S. the set.
In the second set, the teams traded points before Italy went on a 3-0 run to take a 14-13 lead. The I.S. was undeterred, however, taking the next three points to put themselves up 16-14. The Americans extended their lead to 19-16, marking the first time in the match a team had been up by three points.
The Italians clawed their way back, winning five of the next six points to take a 21-20 lead. Led by Speraw, the Americans forced overtime, and in overtime, the teams traded points once again. Team USA took a 29-28 lead before DeFalco secured the second set with a kill off the Italian block, putting the Americans up 2-0.
Team USA came out firing to start the third set, and took a 4-1 lead early on. The Americans continued to utilize the middle of their attack, extending their lead to 9-4, courtesy of an ace by Holt. The Italians continued to fight, and fought their way back, eventually tying the set at 14-14. The Italians then took the lead 20-19 before an Aaron Russell kill evened things at 20 apiece.
Matt Anderson then earned the U.S. their first match point of the match, off a kill from the right side. After Italy forced overtime, the Americans took a 25-24 lead from a service fault from the Italians. DeFalco then clinched the match for the United States with his 12th kill of the match, earning a 26-24 third-set win and a 3-0 win for Team USA.
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With the win, Coach Speraw has now coached two Olympic bronze medal winning teams, having also coached Team USA to a bronze medal finish in Rio in 2016. Micah Ma'a, in his first Olympics, earned his first medal, while Muagututia took home a medal for the first time in his second Olympics after also competing for Team USA in Tokyo. Erik Sullivan (1992-95) also helped Team USA to the bronze as the team leader for the squad in Paris.
The Americans opened strongly in the first set, going point-for-point with Italy. Down 17-18, the U.S. won the next 2 points, courtesy of a huge block to take a 19-18 lead. Italy, however, earned the next three points to take a 21-20 lead. After the teams exchanged points, Anderson was facing a triple block but hit a sharp ball cross court to make it 24-22. Italy defended one set point, but TJ DeFalco's second kill on the next point gave the U.S. the set.
In the second set, the teams traded points before Italy went on a 3-0 run to take a 14-13 lead. The I.S. was undeterred, however, taking the next three points to put themselves up 16-14. The Americans extended their lead to 19-16, marking the first time in the match a team had been up by three points.
The Italians clawed their way back, winning five of the next six points to take a 21-20 lead. Led by Speraw, the Americans forced overtime, and in overtime, the teams traded points once again. Team USA took a 29-28 lead before DeFalco secured the second set with a kill off the Italian block, putting the Americans up 2-0.
Team USA came out firing to start the third set, and took a 4-1 lead early on. The Americans continued to utilize the middle of their attack, extending their lead to 9-4, courtesy of an ace by Holt. The Italians continued to fight, and fought their way back, eventually tying the set at 14-14. The Italians then took the lead 20-19 before an Aaron Russell kill evened things at 20 apiece.
Matt Anderson then earned the U.S. their first match point of the match, off a kill from the right side. After Italy forced overtime, the Americans took a 25-24 lead from a service fault from the Italians. DeFalco then clinched the match for the United States with his 12th kill of the match, earning a 26-24 third-set win and a 3-0 win for Team USA.
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Coming home with the Bronze! ????
— UCLA M. Volleyball (@UCLAMVB) August 9, 2024
So proud of you @JohnSperaw, Micah, and Garrett!#GoBruins | #OlympiansMadeHere | #UCLAOlympians pic.twitter.com/GxtgXq6FhK
Second Olympics, first Olympic medal ??
— UCLA M. Volleyball (@UCLAMVB) August 9, 2024
Garrett Muagututia: Olympic Bronze Medalist! #GoBruins | #OlympiansMadeHere | #UCLAOlympians pic.twitter.com/moPbw9dcKW
First Olympics, first Olympic medal!
— UCLA M. Volleyball (@UCLAMVB) August 9, 2024
Micah Ma'a: Olympic Bronze Medalist #GoBruins | #OlympiansMadeHere | #UCLAOlympians pic.twitter.com/s4NqbTyQgT
DEFALCO FOR THE WIN.
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 9, 2024
Team USA sweeps Italy to take bronze in Paris. #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/kINeVU8xxo
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