The U.S. men’s volleyball team defeated Italy in three sets to win the Olympic bronze medal on Friday in Paris.
PARIS — Four-time U.S. Olympians Matt Anderson and David Smith are medalists once more.
They came back for this chance.
The Americans are taking home men’s volleyball hardware from the Paris Olympics, outlasting Italy in a wild, back-and-forth battle for bronze on Friday.
It went 25-23, 30-28 — a sensational second set in which each country had multiple chances — and 26-24 at a rocking South Paris Arena.
Once Torey DeFalco’s clincher point was scored, longtime libero Erik Shoji’s arms shot into the air in triumph as others fell to their knees. Then after shaking hands with Italy, they all took turns giving long hugs to the coaches and support staff.
