ITALY MAKES HISTORY Italy vs USA Women s Volleyball Gold Medal Match Paris 2024

It's a sparkling day in Paris, but who's going to be sparkling on match day 16 in the South Paris Arena? The USA, the defending champions versus Italy, the world number one team. The gold medal final in the women's volleyball does not get better than this. History beckoning for both these teams. The USA looking to become only the fourth team to defend their Olympic volleyball title successfully. Italy's women have never won an Olympic medal, let alone a gold. For the USA, this is their fifth final appearance. For Italy, this is their debut. Big swing, Annie Drews claims that first point. Three touches on either side of the net for a point, and we're first to 25 in the first four sets, and that's a swing. Italy are setting the tone early. Nice pass by Juana Rantes. That's a great block. Drews blunted, goes again, goes for deep, but still regret that really well in defense. And here comes Agona again, going for the tip, well up by Drews. She's out of the attack at the moment, so advantage very much to Italy. Set a far, tips it down, Poulter somehow gets it up. The USA scrambling at the moment. Plummer goes for the hit, and then in the backcourt, it's off the block, and Italy in complete control of the moment. What a fast start this is by the world number ones. When they're bound, 5-1. Big hit by Plummer, doesn't go through. Just not cutting it at the moment, that's more like it, but still the defense is there for Italy. Agona, wow, back for a timeout, takes the point. Lovely cushioned pass there by Sylla, and she'll go again, but the block is good. Antropova will try once more, still the block is good. USA going great guns, and then off the hands, is that straight out? It is, Sylla didn't get it, and that's gone flying out of course, but Giulio Velasco, the Argentine coach of Italy, decides we'll have a block touch challenge there. What do we reckon? Now here's a look at the official review. So these are the cameras on the hands at the tape, and there looks to be daylight, so an unsuccessful challenge from Italy. So just three points now for the US to make up. Nice pass to Cambi, and that's a straightforward swing from Antropova. Great play by Carlini, what a set that was. Wasn't quite the contact that Dainese wanted. This has got to go over for Magonu, and that, she's off the net, it's not easy, not the best set, but it's still first set to Italy. So here's a look at the stats for set one. We attack efficiency for Italy, much much better than the USA, so going into set two, Italy have the advantage. Still, Italy have only dropped one set in Paris 2024. They lead the defending champions by one, and Kars Karaj, the highly decorated and quite brilliant coach for the United States, has decided he needs to change things up. No worries, Paolo Magonu will be there. That's a nice swing. Into the park from Sila. And that's a great block. You want to warm Dainese's hands, not a problem, you just put it there. Oh yes, just helping it over. Second ball, second touch, thank you. Nice swing, Dainese. Magonu, one against two, doesn't get it to ground. Jarson, Larson rather, reaching for that. Here's Thompson, trying to go deep, the block there. Serafat, goes in the middle. Great work by Oro, great anticipation. Switches, it's a third pass, so it's a free ball for the USA, and it's a wonder block. Not the best reception by Larson, but that's put away. That is beautiful. That's the best swing of the whole match so far. Not a clean contact, but there's always a goner to go to. Doesn't get through this time. So, and again, block arriving late, but Borgsev digs. Thompson tries to thump it down, but Bassetti, wonderful defense, and they'll go once more, and she gets through, and that's the big difference. Good serve, straight back over. It's looking good. Kelsey Robinson-Cook on as a substitute, and straight away serving. You knew that was coming, and that is what Italy will be happy to do. Nice cushion pass, slide attack for Washington, doesn't go down, hasn't cut through again. And Topova, what a hit that was. Coming from the backcourt, over her shoulder, and she still nailed it down the line, and that is six set points for Italy. Oh my goodness. Now, Kurt Pariah is going to argue that this one was passed outside the antenna. This is the challenge that he's wanting. Here's the official review. So, Oro on court now, as the Italy team look to close this out. There's Oro, the setter, to Igoru, puts it away. That is set two. That's how you do it, 25-20. These are the stats from set two. Again, Italy, really, really efficient on those attacks. 19 for 33 going down. USA, only 13 for 29 going down. The whistle goes, and Miriam Silla will get us underway. A set which could well change the lives of the players in blue. It's a scramble already for the United States, and that is a point to Italy. They know it's all or nothing now. Their Olympic title relies on a comeback in this set. Nice swing by Eddie Washington. That's better for Poulter. Plum is still not cutting it. Thompson, and that might be enough, and oh my words, how does she get that back? Monica Gennaro. So, it's a free ball for the US. They've got to score here, and they do. So, that's a great pass just to get her in sync, and then puts it away. Bang! That's on the baseline. What a recovery. Every one of the players will tell you that as they come and talk to you after a match. Never mind the bad point. Forget it. It's gone. Do the next one, and that's why they've won the last 13 matches. They're in control in match number 14 as well, and that's why Eda Denezey has to believe. What a great block that was. Oh, what a big hit. It doesn't matter how good Poulter and Washington are. Their experience, their record at Olympics, BNL, you name it, they've been there. That's a good swing, but it hasn't gone down. That's the issue. It's not winning points of the run, whereas Ogonu, every time she touches it, she gets the point. That's a great serve. That's a really good serve, because it's come straight back over. Chance now. Oh, that wasn't the best set, and it's just been gifted to Italy, and Silla just drills it. That's not the best from Ogonu. It's an ace for Silla, and it's just getting better and better. She moved out of the way while Rantes took that one, and here comes Skinner now, desperate to get a point. Di Gennaro gets a pair of hands. Bassetti, cross-court. Ronald Rantes blows herself, but the points are just seemingly coming at will. Doesn't go down, not yet. This could be it. Ogonu wants more. It's gone long. Wasn't the best serve to just go over. Ogonu doesn't land it. Thompson sends it out. That is the trigger for the Italian celebrations. Neither the men nor the women have ever won Italian gold at the Olympics in volleyball. They have now achieved it. The Italian gold medalists, the first to receive, the first ever. The celebrations and the lasting impact this will have for Italian volleyball.