The Americans believe they play their best volleyball with their backs against the wall and they proved it again Saturday afternoon.
After failing to pick up a point in the first two matches of the Olympics, Team USA absolutely had to have strong showings on Day 3 and 4 in order to keep its medal hopes alive.
After Saturday’s win in four sets (25-22, 25-22, 14-25, 25-22), the U.S. has now tallied six points in its last two matches, getting right back into the thick of things in Pool A.
The U.S. stormed out to take the first two sets from France Saturday, utilizing a major comeback in the opening set, coming from down 17-10 to collect 14 of the next 17 points. U.S. star Matt Anderson took matters into his own hand with eight points alone in the first set.
Team USA got out to another slow start in the second set, but Max Holt helped spark his team with a spike and then a big block to halt a French run.
The U.S. squad got sloppy again in the third, falling back into bad habits of service faults and unforced errors. Four different times, it looked like the U.S. team was starting to put together a rally only to have it derailed by a serve that either went into the net or sailed long.
Anything less than three points would’ve been a disappointment for the U.S. after taking the first two sets, but the Americans managed to close things out in the fourth set to send France home without a point.
That could be the difference in seeding, which will now come down to the fifth and final day of prelims Monday.
After Day 4, the U.S. and France are tied with six points in Pool A.