TOKYO -- After decades of searching for Olympic gold, the U.S. women’s volleyball team finally won with a victory over Brazil at the Tokyo Games.The United States won three silver and two bronze medals since 1984 when it first got on the medal stand. It then beat the team that had denied it the chance to win gold in the final match at the Olympics in 2008 and 2012.Captain Jordan Larson was part of the silver-winning 2012 team and the bronze medal team five years back. Her leadership on court and strong play on defense helped pave the way.Foluke Akinradewo-Gunderson, middle blocker, and Larson, both returned for the third Olympics, having failed in Rio de Janeiro. They now have a complete collection of medals from their final Olympic match.This victory allowed Karch Kiraly, a U.S. volleyball coach, to join Lang Ping in China as the second individual to win gold as both a player and coach. Kiraly was a indoor volleyball player who won gold in 1988 and 1984. In 1996, he won the gold medal in beach volleyball.The U.S. started quickly, scoring four points in the opening set behind strong attack by Michelle Bartsch–Hackley. The U.S. won the first set 25-21 thanks to a soft shot from Bartsch-Hackley, which gave her eight points.For most of the second set, the Americans were ahead. Larson's soft shot at the net was well-placed and put them up 22-17. The set was over when Carol Silva's serve went too long.The match continued with the third set. Larson's kill completed the sweep of the Americans in all nine sets. All the U.S. players gathered together on the floor for a tearful hug.Brazil had won gold in indoor volleyball for either men or women four times in a row at the Olympics. The men claimed the title in 2004, 2016 and 2008 respectively.After seven consecutive wins, the women's team lost in Tokyo for the first time. They will be leaving with a silver medal. The men lost the semifinal match against the Russian Olympic Committee team, and then they lost the bronze-medal match against Argentina.Brazil lost the match in the semis because Tandara Caixeta, an outside hitter, was sent home for violating anti-doping rules. Tandara's lawyer claimed that a banned substance discovered in a July test had accidentally been introduced into her system.The U.S. dealt with absences as well. After injuring her right ankle in the fourth match against the ROC, Jordan Thompson, the American's opposite hitter, was unable to play again.The depth that has made the U.S. a top team over the past 20 years despite not winning a gold medal, was overcome by an injury that left setter Jordyn Peulter out of the quarterfinal. Annie Drews took Thompson's place, and the U.S. did not miss a beat.A U.S. women’s team has had a difficult journey to reach this stage. It all started over 40 years ago with the 1980 Olympic squad's decision to start year-round training. However, the U.S. boycott of the Games in Moscow prevented them from competing.The foundation was already in place and the Americans won six medals at the 10 Olympics. Now they have their gold.Serbia defeated South Korea 25-18-25-15-25-15, 25-15, 25-15 in the bronze-medal match to take home a women's volleyball gold medal for the second consecutive Olympics. For their first medal in this sport, the Serbians won silver in 2016.
