PARIS, France – The United States and Brazil are two titans in Olympic women’s volleyball , having contested three of the last four gold medal matches, but on Thursday they will meet in what promises to be a tantalizing semi-final clash at the South Paris Arena 1. The US beat Brazil in straight sets at the Tokyo Games three years ago to claim gold, but the South American side had won back-to-back golds in Beijing and London. (Paris Olympics 2024: Games, results, latest updates) Brazil are ranked number two in the world and veteran coach Ze Roberto, who has been at the helm for over two decades, is seeking a fourth medal as women’s coach and fifth overall, having coached the men’s team to the top of the podium in 1992.
“They’re playing beautiful volleyball right now. It is a program we have a lot of respect for and I’m excited,” American Andrea Drews said of Brazil after she starred in Tuesday’s US quarter-final win over Poland. “Any day we can earn another day in this jersey is a blessing.
I know we’re going to bring our best for a dogfight and continue to try and build on what we’re doing here. There’s a sense of now or never.” While the US have dropped five sets in Paris, Brazil charged into the knockouts as the only team not to drop one.
They continued that trend in the quarter-finals with a 3-0 win over the Dominican Republic. “We’ve dropped a lot and been able to come back on top,” American middle blocker Haleigh Washington said. “I li.