5-Sets Battle for Semi-Final Spot! 😳🏐 USA vs. France - Quarter Finals | VNL 2023

serving it is France in all blue

receiving for this for first

quarterfinal and that's a lovely start

for tonu to get things underway here in

good

Poland I love everything about that play

right there we started with jeski Ser

he's coming in for Russell start him off

from the service line and Tony UD making

his presence felt early he's back at the

serving

line oh yes that's a cracking start

chinazi all over AAL

just the full commit block right there

smothering Taylor AAL right

there he is well doing well not to let

Christensen go over on

two oh I say two in a row chiny Goodness

Me brilliant star of France three

nothing that block set up beautifully by

Tilly on the pin as well you kind see

him set the edge chin Andi closes

perfectly

oh that's nice could could have gone and

given TJ a swing they need to gone

everywhere but goes back to AAL nice

move I like that from Michael

Christenson such a Savvy Setter right

your guy gets stuffed once go right back

to him feed him get the confidence up

make him a threat again now AAL back to

the serving

line well dealt with M

renov oh Tilly flying that's a lovely

swing from him

elevation on the right side from Tilly

right there and just a perfect pass from

kov on the off speed Sur from

AAL till he didn't play in week three

he's back here for the

finals what a good commit from chinazi

but this time htz comes up with the

point for the USA you're France you got

to love the touch as chin is getting ear

here in the US you'd like to find the

floor a little more cleanly out of the

middle going

[Applause]

forward oh that didn't hit the floor

good pick up but it's free ball for

France now it

does TTI recognizing straight away that

chin is here to play and wants to play

and he's hit just about everything yeah

clearly he is dangerous out of The

Middle the USA will be happy to see him

rotate to the back for a couple

[Applause]

rotations maybe just a little bit too

much adrenaline cring through chin at

the

moment yeah that's his first misstep

though on the first few points here he's

been unbelievable

early TJ DeFalco back to serve he's got

a good jump serve when he gets it going

does he go full blast does he work into

it

Works into

it and that's a brilliant block by the

USA and that's a smart serve actually

from defala yeah I love that serve you

call that his working into it that's you

know harder than any serve I think I

ever hit in my entire life but uh

certainly qualifies and jesi again

setting the edge real well right

there another good serve can't go

middle oh yes well played

shoi very good play that speed a bit of

hustle on that set out wide for jesi

yeah that is just tremendous Tempo in

transition right there great dig from

Shi off the block touch Michel

Christensen just comes flying in and

keeps jeski and Rhythm on the

pin just like that it's all square five

a piece now DeFalco probably his hardest

yep you kind of see that don't you get

like a run of three you get your 85 is

90 then 95 and then you've got your a

chance to go with your third it's and

it's all full on I I despise that

approach personally I think it should go

the other way there you go you know

especially when you're scoring keep it

on France make them play drop it back

down again maybe to 0 and but so far I

mean that's okay USA instant side out as

the lightning bolt

strikes I like

that and that was a little more what

they're looking for clean kills to the

floor out of the middle for the

[Applause]

USA full stretch T it might be a little

too much here USA with a chance for a

break

point good touch

grov and Al he's just a tad L big gap

between him and the net the tempo in

particularly in transition for both of

these teams right now is phenomenal both

set is just keeping the pace up and we

saw about seven contacts in about 3 and

1/2 seconds right there c yeah that was

fast CLE now decent ball

in oh well played well watch by

[Applause]

AAL got good discipline up there from

aval cuz that can be a little dicey you

don't know if you're going to get the

contact from the France player you got

to wait till it breaks the plane of the

net of course well executed

now here comes Mr

Anderson this jump serve just seems to

get better as he gets older look at that

grov scrambling T is not going to get it

he starts with an

ace Mr Anderson exactly Mr Anderson now

you said it he's been doing it for a

long time and that serve just keeps

getting better and better there's great

Rhythm on it

it's that double grunt that puts some

Under Pressure but that's a good ball in

oh and it's just snuck through jeski

left enough line you can't believe it

out of your picture he's like what how

did how did that go in this is how yeah

here's a look at it just barely sneaking

it nicely done by Boer not so by off

with the serve and now he'll go off and

think about what he's

done not not his best effort from the

service line one would

think

jeski serving presses good from the USA

at the

moment France having to really work hard

for their points is that caught finger

no o so there's a challenge coming is

there going to be an admission from the

USA that did look live like it caught

some fingers but uh didn't seem like

Tilly was too convinced no and the

reason I'm was asking whether or not the

USA might admit to it is because here at

the finals there's a green card system

and if you admit to the touch as a team

goes to a goes to challenge it you go no

no I touched it the referee will will

give the team a green card and the team

with the most green cards at the end of

the tournament gets a $30,000 bonus

which isn't bad really really really wow

I mean that's promotion of sportsmanship

if I've ever seen it is to a degree

because because it's it requires it does

require someone to go well I'm going to

challenge that and you go all right I

touched it but as opposed to no I just

touched it yeah yeah yeah when the

referee's given it the other way and but

even if that is the case you'll also get

a green card as well so reward for that

sporting spirit and fair play moment and

quite rightly USA saying no he didn't

touch that the video would seem to back

that

up Taylor ail having cut his fingernails

before the start of this

[Music]

game I think yor Mar didn't get the

information from the

uh from the thing they're looking for a

block touch it's on the big screen now

but the

referee now see it so he's awarded the

point to the USA we're all good always a

always a few uh first day

Gremlins live TV but they all get signed

out in the end don't look like it just

found the space in between Micah

christensen's

hands it'll be jesi

again good lead nice early call by Tilly

and cleau the passing unit really is

isn't it Rich a former USA international

Libo Olympic gold medalist it's the

three players in the passing unit all

four if you go to for they're the only

people to decide if the ball's in out

right absolutely I mean you can kind of

get some help from your other guys here

and there but you the the ones who are

kind of in the in the way in the line of

fire are the ones making that call

typically the last thing as a time out

come last thing you want is your pesky

middle is going and you Le it and then

and then like oh sorry yeah keep your

nose out

work so

far listen the direction don't change

the direction don't change this thing

with the same leave the when recep they

jump every time play one one by jump

when when Med we play open first very

good

[Applause]

[Music]

that was a interesting bit of insight

from coach Weber there content to leave

the line on Boer it seems like the USA

he said continue to do that even though

we saw Boer sneak that one past Jesy a

moment

[Applause]

ago

ail good

touch nice set from

jesi sensible hit from DeFalco and

that's just a super high hit from

chinazi yeah he's up so big it's not

kind of that

traditional tempo right he's got to

elevate all the way up to that high ball

yeah then said If you can join me you

got a chance if not it's my point yeah

and Max Holt can get up there and that's

still going off the top of his hands

just as an indication oh goodness me

what a brilliant touch from on UTI USA

have to come again and they do absolute

firecracker from jeski even with grov in

the way it's still the USA's point and

this is a great turn around what a

really good start for the USA after an

early positive start from

France yeah indeed and jeski playing

some ball big time for the USA right now

coming in in place of Russell

here good

serve that's a nice touch oh good set

little bit inside

good cover by

Tilly classic we saw earlier with AAL

halt doing the same over to the left

side to the right side not able to close

that gap between himself and the net

that Gap go or front one go whatever you

want to call it out there so tough for

the middle

blocker and we know chin has been

unbelievable so you got to respect him

if you're the middle blocker H

interesting USA putting in four passes

on that chinazi ser

so everyone right back on the Baseline

which meant for Michel Christensen

that's a tough rotation one cuz he's

right on the Baseline to try and get

into the net now DeFalco had a good

serving run last time

[Applause]

out not to

[Music]

be yeah unlike him I don't know what we

saw out of him on his last run just kind

of slowly dialing it up

yeah lovely

pass that's some quality volleyball from

the USA and it's not comfortable it's

not easy but they made it look both

indeed that was a heck of a serve from

Bo TJ just stuck that pass and then Ceno

had no chance against Anderson just

going high into the angle

[Applause]

good cover by

grov oh that's too easy jeski makes an

easy play that's nice lovely speed

brilliant speed on the set but also

jeski to get out wide like that yeah

that's just good stuff good scouting

jeski standing there for that tip from

Cleo and then immediately darting out to

the pin I don't think he ever got behind

the 3meter line just up early

Christensen Zips it in there and gets a

great kill off the block hul now with

the serve

another good serve from

him that's well played by France they

get their side out they haven't gone

away in the set USA with a two-point

advantage and that's a nice adjustment

from Boer I think you know he's kind of

been going away from his body a little

bit USA's been on him there it kind of

chops that one about 60 70% into the

angle AAL knows it wasn't what he wanted

in terms of blocking double change for

France bisard's on and so to Patrick

Pat into the front row as opposite

brisard in the back as seter so keeping

that thre man threat at the net good

touch TI though out of the action to a

degree it might be costly this for

France well played shoi better chance

now for the USA excellent so many times

you see that don't you they were in

trouble but a really smart hit and or a

good piece of cover and suddenly the one

option becomes two or three indeed yeah

and those are the kind of plays that you

don't on the stat sheet right those

little coverage plays couple of them

from Shi this one right here just

keeping that ball off the floor giving

USA a second opportunity it's great

stuff it's why we featured him early

clay

yeah

exactly oh that was a chance

DeFalco couldn't quite keep it in play

nice swing nice aggressive hit from

Tilly good good neutral position in in

six on defense from defala I think but

that just found some high seam

right there from Tilly just a Wonderful

World Class

swing chroy on to serve he's been doing

this throughout the

vnl but more often than not he has been

putting the ball in to be fair and that

thing I mean you can tell when that goes

in that's nasty oh

yeah say pretty pleased they're not

having to play that

one those of you watching and you're

thinking hold on there's something not

quite what I've been used to seeing

during this FNL you're absolutely right

all the teams are on the side of the

second referee now they not over with

the first ref for these for these finals

good leave by grov that means the first

ref has got a bit of peace and quiet for

the first time and the second ref's got

it all to do

now patri back to serve

such a good ball a nice play keeping the

speed of the play as well

USA so impressive the athleticism of the

Setters out there I mean taking that

ball that that ball could well land six

feet on the other on Francis side of the

net Christensen just goes up keeps his

guide to Falco in Rhythm right there

one to forget from

AAL but so far so good for the USA in

this set they've got their their buffer

a two-point buffer the double change

reversed and tonti now back onto court

so to is Boer and they've had nine or

eight rotations now they'll have with

three front row attackers and the setter

in the back

row J just left that one he's like whoa

bad glad that wasn't coming in it didn't

have it look like it had any spin on it

yeah that wasn't a clean contact from

Tilly usually so good controlling the

ball he just uh missed the hand ever so

slightly on that one it looked like now

USA into a strong rotation that's not a

screen by the way because the ball's

being contacted above the height of the

net by the server so it doesn't matter

where the players stand on court a

screen can only be CAU by the referee if

the Serve contact is made below the

height of the net and all those players

are are then officially blocking the

view of the

passer nice running the pipe really well

at the moment the USA very much so and I

I love this from Christensen how

involved he's keeping

jeski you might you might think you know

if you don't know any better Jess is an

unbelievable player you might think

though coming in as kind of the new guy

in the roster in place of Russell maybe

you let him work his way in but not the

case here Christensen feeding him early

and often yeah nice touch that by

DeFalco but a great block from France

they had a couple right at the start and

now they've got one here quite an

important moment they're back to within

a

couple yeah that's just good discipline

on the three-man Block you see that

shoulder to shoulder everyone pressing

straight over

[Music]

textbook boy

yeah that's well played by Christensen

cuz in that in that rotation he's coming

in he's in rotation five he's coming to

the net there's nobody else around him

so if that does trickle over he's got to

run and chase it to make the play and he

did have it covered but timeout called

by France here so far so good for the

US little bit of a slow starter fast

start from France if you want to call it

that

[Applause]

those of you who have not seen a France

timeout before you're not hearing things

Andre Jani was talking in Italian to his

team but they all most of them have

played in if not are playing in Italy

and and understand what he's

saying how's your Italian uh it's not

great I was going to say that's not a

luxury you have if you're coaching a US

team because we are not uh well traveled

typically and certainly not worldly

enough to speak three in four languages

like a lot of the

Europeans nice view for the super slowmo

always tonui his little tongue sticking

out as he sets the ball

fascinating well ail's getting really

frustrated now because as was mentioned

they want to leave the line on Bo

a and he's got he's actually got too far

out to the

angle yeah it's always tough when it

hits your hands you feel like if they

were pressing over you'd get that block

and maybe that is the case for him on

that particular

[Music]

one so France France missing a few too

many serves for Johnny's

liking well that's the one thing and I

don't I'm not I'm going to wait I'm

going to wait till Mr Anderson Ser PR

in it's the one thing the USA haven't

done and they even though France is

signing out they're signing out well

they're having to work I think probably

90% of the serves have gone in for the

USA and that makes a big difference over

the course of a match doesn't it in a

set well it's a big indicator for the us

because sometimes they can be

susceptible to strings of Errors from

the service line and they've been

serving well in this first

set in the right place but it's on you

so quickly you've got hardly any chance

to do something with it you can see clo

just retreating a touch kind of sliding

in yeah it's it's you know Throw your

arms out and prey a little bit is what

it comes down to

defensively good

ball oh right back at you France get

another go oh good touch from jeski that

might have been a chicken

wing and that's just a huge arm swing

from Mr Anderson and now the USA are set

point another just another incredible

spear from shoi defensively forces this

one jesi with the left

arm and an Anderson wide open that's not

a good recipe for

France now Jessie back to the serving

line he's actually playing the Panasonic

Panthers next season in

Japan and as Tilly puts it on the floor

for France it's 's Dad will be coaching

jeski at the Panasonic pampus

Christensen can't believe he didn't get

this one all over with that left hand

but till he just sneaks it

[Applause]

inside nice good touch by

Tilly but in the end the USA get it done

and they take the opening set 2521

[Music]

look at this last play right here just

off the shoulder and the US were just a

little more steady weren't they in that

first set started off a little slower

you have to give CR credit to France for

a fast start but USA really rided the

ship a little better from the service

line they defensively they just came up

with digs and touches that extended

rallies and they just kept the pressure

on France a little more consistently

throughout that first set I think yeah

now I do have a the goldfish a memory

and however I think that the the

unforced errors we're going to see here

opponent errors most of those are

serving errors I don't think the USA hit

a ball out blocks don't count as

opponent errors they're in the blocks

column France as well I think that's all

from the serving line isn't it in matter

set unless unless you've got a better

memory than me no no the US had a few a

few errors they strung a few kind of

Midway through but they rided the ship

quickly they didn't let it get out of

hand and I I always love that opponent

errors how many rebies do you get from

your opponent usually such a telling

stat then the other one is you saw the

US had a few more attacks which

typically means they created some

defensive opportunities in

transition yeah that's the thing isn't

it getting those getting that ball into

transition or as K kirai likes to say

trans and try and create something from

it but if you can't do that then that's

and the other team are just siding out

all the time you got you you're then

having to rely on what you can do in

service if your if your block defense

isn't working and maybe again from

France's perspective when you when you

look at those two elements serving

wasn't quite working and so they're

trying or rather the block defense

wasn't quite working the start they did

it dropped away then they tried harder

on serve that that let them down a bit

and it kind of all was played into the

USA in terms of how they set them win it

is interesting how those things all kind

of weave together right you start

pressing from the end line and things

aren't going well and that I think that

that really says it all 78% serve

percentage for France

95 for the USA so that kind of pressure

you're having to pass all that often is

going to make it and they weren't it

wasn't as if right we're going to float

it on you just to make you play it was

yeah you got to work hard to play indeed

it was

yeah that's one of the better service

games I've seen from the USA in a little

while if they can maintain that level

throughout this match and throughout

this tournament they are going to be

extremely difficult to contend with I

would say well you were in Anaheim Rich

watch some of the the volleyball there

how much did you enjoy that uh it was

unbelievable it's the first time I've

seen Cuba play in a little while and the

athletes they've got on that Squad are

astounding when they just uh Herrera and

Marin yance and

concep and the rest of the guys just

phenomenal really uh masso the height at

which they're hitting the ball through

the middle and all right they haven't

got a Setter as you might say in the in

the the sense they haven't got a a um a

Christensen or a tonti but if they did

wow I think we'd be watching them here

the F indeed yeah the speed off the

floor the speed of the arm just

everything was impressive but uh

obviously the USA handled them

relatively easily because of just the

overall volleyball skill that we saw in

set one there's a good example of it

right out of the gate from DeFalco ni

way to get set two and the opening point

for the USA and a smile from deaco first

one of the match

he's an intense kid but he he's uh not

one to hide the smile too much I don't

think

AF nice rather a flatter ball in but

that's fine for tonti CU he can still

speed it up as well from there that just

kind of poetry emotion right there such

a you know didn't quite get up as high

as chin and needs it perhaps but the

pace of it is enough to beat the

block these are the things aren't they

where as a player at this level you've

got to change something you can't go and

do that three times in a row and get

frustrated yourself three times in a row

you have to change something yeah yeah

indeed you can't keep failing the same

way so to

speak nice touch oh that's well played

dig that out of the net by Hulk but

France now come again plenty of

options and that may not have made the

court from Tilly an unforced error from

him and an opportunity Wasted by

France that just something looked just a

touch off right there maybe he was wide

of the where the set was didn't quite

get out to

him that's a good

pass that's what you want at least he's

made up for it now Ty with a great great

ball in he's been Rock Solid in serve

receive in this match and that's the

perfect example of it cuz that was a

cracker of a serve from

Christensen that's a cracker of a serve

from

voy well played Mr Anderson just Matt

Anderson he's come to a lot left or

right I mean he spent time didn't he

when he's playing in for Zenit um as an

outside hitter not an opposite because

mahoff was playing as the opposite and

he's done it for the USA on numerous

occas

indeed let's not Overlook that set from

Christensen all the way wide of the

Court pushing that in Rhythm to the left

side

pin what a great Touch by Christensen

just gets a good body shape well played

shoi this is an excellent

rally and now a chance for the

US oh is that in is it in is it in yes

it is is well the delay is coming

because the referee's waiting to see the

the green or red light on his monitor we

don't have a balling EG challenge

anymore within 20 cm the refs get told

that was so close he had to wait to see

whether it was in great swing from

Anderson you get to see both teams

arguing their point in that uh couple

seconds of downtime yeah it's not as if

they got the the Jedi skills I don't

think it can affect the uh the

technology in that

way nice recovery rate there from France

great Tempo to the pin Cleveland off

inside

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

pole CLE no to

[Applause]

serve good save free ball for

France Boer and Cleo in the back row LOF

Tilly waiting in the

front not going anywhere Hulk tries to

throw it back and now maybe a chance for

the US

how about that what about it but what

about that hit and and it just reminds

me of a commentary we did before and we

talked about uh when you played in

Europe and what the coach called the

Opposites the corrector the corrector

that's right yeah and I mean I don't

know that there was much to correct

right there that was Perfection on the

bump set from Shi deep of the

endline Anderson obliging going over the

top touch again Christ is now made four

Exquisite digs in transition and they've

capitalized off

[Music]

it I I love how calm he is on defense

that's something to pay attention to if

you're a young player Michel Christenson

just standing in good athletic position

and let the ball come to him he is

scooping and Anderson continues to

deliver

[Music]

[Music]

[Applause]

where do France go from here it's not as

if they're playing badly what what we're

seeing though is their errors are being

exacerbated because of the fact that USA

are playing so well so when they make

the air it really stands

out yeah indeed and I I like USA's

approach we talked about some of the

service mistakes from France and USA

when they've had one or two they dial it

back they make sure to correct that not

keep missing serves and

strings FAL be a little bit upset you

got three huge blockers at the net and

add assist ball and he's probably a

little bit too far into court you would

think especially with the three man he's

quite literally the last line of defense

and TJ one of the best position six

Defenders there is worldwide I

think well out was the call but the the

actual finish to that sentence was out

of their reach that's right it's more of

a prayer than a uh confident call

very well played by

DeFalco it tells you how good the serve

was even grabov has put a little bit too

much on it but they'll make up for it

with a block but that just for a side

out just for a side out yeah chin kind

of doing what we saw him do at the very

beginning of this match effort rewarded

right there with the late left hand

well

watched time on the beach well served by

DeFalco yeah indeed he he waves off Shi

you know typically the lios are going to

step in and take that second ball if the

setter plays the first but defala with a

great set of hands and jeski just going

high into the triple block and getting

the payoff

good ball from

Cleo kind of felt that tonti was going

to go middle but it was so far off the

net that even without all there he

couldn't do anything about it did we

talked about the height at which chinin

is hitting those

balls good touch from boy there nice

reactions

again USA get good touches of their

own oh wow it's still going and now a

chance for

France maybe a little too

clever but now they' got a better

chance oh goodness oh no it's off the

feet but we've got a net touch I believe

against the

USA and so it will be France's Point

well I thought it was G to the USA for a

second see if we can look at what

happened here we heard a whistle and we

weren't sure and I don't know that our

referees were sure what the whistle was

for there's a net touch isn't there from

AAL as he makes this as the Blair here's

the net touch and again on the elbow

yeah Christensen got the left elbow in I

think on that Kong

block could save

grov defala just putting his hands up as

high as he

could four options for the

US oh theyve made the block jesi get

shut down some staggering stuff from

France right now I mean just staying in

grov made a huge run to save that ball

looked as calm as you'd like just kind

of jogged over controlled it and then

shinaz with yet another stuff block

oh well defal Co just tried to put that

in the let go four to four Ines and it's

not worked yeah I mean what's what's the

difference here clay do you think Tilly

took a little bit off his surf he's

keeping the pressure on USA making them

earn these side outs they're having a

little bit of trouble right now France

is in a little bit of Rhythm and also

DeFalco was really frustrated in that

last play maybe because he didn't get

the ball or maybe because whatever but

he visibly frustrated and then he's

carried that frustration over into his

swing indeed and now they're looking for

a block touch against France here and I

don't think they're going to get it it's

the ball that's hit the

net I mean how about that position in

super slowmo from TJ though just the

full

Pike this is great for France from 37

down they have out scored the USA

6-2 that's a let off for the US

indeed and I think Tilly just trying to

be a little too cute right there he went

with a different Rhythm tried to make it

look like he was going to crack a jumper

and go back to the

float trying to do a little too much

there perhaps yeah that contact he

wouldn't have cracked an egg would

he clever such a clever play from

chinazi great I mean it was great start

to finish great serve from aval showing

the range on his serve

yeah a little palm ball right there chin

can Elevate and feast and he can show a

little bit of touch as

well there again chin and J that's the

first serve he's made backed off the

Jump serve one with the floater and got

the immediate Ace so France seems to be

on the same page as you and I play they

certainly are aren't they right now it's

h great they turned it ranked and time

out called by the US

[Music]

nice and fast shot clock especially the

floaters they'll go fast okay that's

what France is trying to do they're

trying to qu serve us be ready simple

communication and let's go

[Applause]

we have you ever heard John squir or

shout other than because it's so loud in

the venue he needs to be heard he needs

to Cal his coach right he is very very

calm I like Michael Christensen putting

a little fire in there as well saying

noticing that France is not only trying

to make their serves but trying to Quick

Serve as well push the pace and stay on

this run that they've been

[Music]

on oh good save by

Hal oh it's a footfall by halol as he's

landed whole foot over all of the center

line as he made that I said like a j dig

that's unfortunate because that was

tremendous body control to be fully

airborne and find that ball with his

platform that one has hit the

floor so it's very much game on now in

this second set little bit of soft touch

there from Holt as

[Music]

well little Chip Shot over the top Tony

UD can't quite get it

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

well saved by Def

Falco oh yes play the game play of the

game I mean that was like the hand of

God right here just from nowhere a

little backhand flippy immediately

recovers his position sees no block and

goes choppy down the line I mean that is

beauty personified right

there and then it's backed up with an a

serve from Christensen and the lead goes

to the

us we talked about TJ perhaps being a

little frustrated just a couple points

ago but that certainly will uh erase any

frustration

great Touch by

jeski not much that could be done by

DeFalco really good

improvisation pretty amazing to go with

the two-handed slam

great dig from jeski too just good

neutral position in six keeping the

hands

out I got you

[Music]

definitely talking about the consistency

they need which they

had halfway through it just seems to

have slipped away from them for a little

bit it's impressive how

quickly the USA got back on the horse

looked like France were charging hard

USA made a couple amazing plays and took

control of this red bag they did as well

you get the thing that they were being

hurried by France and playing at

France's Pace but now they've kind of

slowed it down playing back at the pace

that they were playing in the first set

and it suits them a lot

better oh that's going to be a catch

Ball by LOF oh no double touch I think

that one just slipped right through the

hands of Tony UD right I was going to

say because it was only the one handful

of

[Laughter]

[Applause]

go jum this now with the set is play the

ball you never even look do you you

don't expect that to

happen that's good

play again the blocks in great position

wonderful cover by Cleveland or by Tilly

it was oh no it's going to be a point

for the US LOF as B it but he's caught

the

net

that's if you're going to Ping it you

can't touch the

net indeed that's where uh you know

whatever the French word for machismo is

gets the better of you

[Applause]

there changes made patri on Brar on

Christensen with the

serve can't quite find the

link good cover better chance here patri

gets a good look at it but so to does

the block a monster block from the US

and they are taking control of this set

and a little bit of of a shot to the

nose for grov on the cover

here great position from DeFalco right

here look at that reach out to the line

yes he's sned grov with that one

Christensen the speed of that set from

brisard starts with a great pass and

grov still that'll water your eyes up a

little bit when you take it in the nose

[Applause]

Ran's got a great jump serve when he

gets it

going gets a lot of weight behind it

just like that but it's not quite found

the

Baseline you can see that that that

reaction from is just not quite clicking

at the moment it's almost like there's a

little bit of sand in the cogs for

France

[Applause]

I know from previous chats John spo's

kind of said def's got license just to

go after it really if he feels good

about it he can go for it it does seem

that way right and uh certainly with

this lead here it's a circumstance where

DeFalco is going to try and go after it

a little bit and then he's H made a very

good leave on that

Ball's had a lot of success with this

during this FNL a little choppy down to

position one

FAL go with quite a good look at it

there hul was doing a bit of paa then as

he

landed paa it's going to brush up on my

ballerina terminology

terminology don't anyone ever tell him I

said he look I didn't say he was a

ballerina right I'm not saying that I'll

be in trouble jeffroy he's on to serve

nice well it's great isn't it to have

someone like Jesy who just is just fit

in to this uh team as if he's always

been

here and saying that he's 29 years of

age he's been around the team for many

years not always a starter but when

required is filled in like he's doing

here doing a great job yeah it's one of

those things you you forget these are

the best Representatives in the entirety

of the United States so you know being

the third outside

hitter doesn't make you a slouch and you

got to also great work from France here

put into perspective with the NCAA

program the amount of players that are

coming through year on year to try and

take these players places and yet it

doesn't happen you've got uh

ening um and DeFalco and and that's

about it and add in uh the setter as

well to aniga those are really the only

three that have really made it of late

right yeah MAA has just come on late as

well uh he's kind of supplanted TOA a

little bit at least here in the the

finals yeah he's again it's not as if

he's 26 for mimar he's he's kind of gone

and played Pro and then worked his way

in a little bit later on doing really

well as well in that respect nice again

from chinazi good passing better from

France he's just been on fire off L chin

yeah Ma also played for coach spah at

UCLA right so he's got kind of that four

years of

uh occupancy in sp's mind as far as what

he can

do nice I think everyone who's watching

now and loves their volleyball have

their favorite plays and for me this is

my favorite play the pipe attack or the

bck as it's as it's known in the US

doesn't matter who's doing it it's just

such a cool play yeah it's just it's

amazing too that even as that pass got

pushed a little left they still keep the

tempo they make it a back one bck

instead of a front one bck it's uh just

amazing how much a part of the sport

that is and obviously you have to credit

Brazil the early 2000s for popularizing

that with jba who we saw earlier and

Dante yeah there's a lot of debate over

over who brought the uh the pipe there's

some discussion that it first appeared

in the USA training back in in the 80s

certainly from the world's perspective

it was Brazil that highlighted it wasn't

it without doubt well the tempo with

which they did it I mean certainly the

the pipe set did exist before that but

almost as a a combo play with the quick

set Brazil are the ones that popularize

that well it doesn't matter what France

seem to do at the moment they can't get

back into this set USA with the serve

with Christensen and making France play

yet again

excellent I'm pretty sure Shi shanked

nectar as he put that one out for

Anderson to have the swing set point

again now for the

USA Midway through this second set it

looked like France were going to put

together a comeback right and they

actually had a lead USA just got back on

their horse immediately though and have

run away with this second

set oh great pick up by jeski

oh it's catastic from Anderson to wrap

up the set did he mean it doesn't matter

they got the point and even patrie with

a free swing gets he's saying yeah just

off the little thinker that do and it's

two nothing for the US I don't know that

he meant to have it Deli thin but he

certainly meant to do that crosscourt

and it's just all things coming up in

favor of the USA right now on this

match the teams will change ends it's

only time they change ends in the

match and right now the USA very much in

the driving seat 2521

2518 they lead by two sets to nothing in

this first quarterfinal of the men's

volleyball Nations League here in Gans

Poland USA just really showing their

class again a few extra opponent errors

and then attack differential too I mean

it's kind of the same

story right France were a little bit

better from the service line as far as

their errors and that's when they kind

of got themselves out in front

momentarily but and the USA was just not

to be deterred in that second

set here's some of the slow that was

that low ball

chinazi getting over the top of it

getting it away quickly it's great to

see how the super slowmo

captures the play and even then as well

super slowmo but you still get an

appreciation of how quick the ball is

being set particularly to the middle and

then this is lovely it's when you're on

the other side of the net looking at

that in the context of where you are and

you see that ball and you see AAL coming

in you're thinking oh it's going middle

going middle and then it just goes over

the top it's quite a difficult read at

times isn't it to make to know it's

going to the pipe oh absolutely I mean

as a middle blocker you and I were

talking about this earlier you just have

to have your hands up and and hope you

you know can tap your feet twice get the

quick and the pipe it's a tall task

though as we look

at the receiver

accuracy that's not bad you got 50 80

91% in in in a place really where

Christenson can set the middle

absolutely yeah the ball control from

both teams has been pretty impressive

but USA have kind of sustained their

level of pressure from the service line

a little bit better throughout this

match

there's a lot of work for France to do

that's for

sure and it's great news right now for

the USA up by

[Music]

two we can head down to the court I know

Dave Rogers is there waiting to have a

chat with John SPO certainly am thank

you Clayton uh John very very impressive

your two sets up what have you been most

pleased with I think our defense uh you

play against a team like France where

they play such great defense for us to

come and match it maybe at this point

exceed it give ourselves a lot of

transition opportunities it's really

nice to see us play that well any

changes in the third set no I'd like to

keep it going exactly like it's going

good luck thank

[Music]

you indeed yeah going change a winning

uh mentality in a winning way are you it

all depends on the pressure that France

can bring if they can bring it right

indeed and that's a that's a good point

from coach spah well let's head down to

the court again Dave's ready to have a

chat with France uh thank you very much

Clayton uh work to do here your two sets

down but there have been moments what

are you going to work on for the third

set they have a first Bard side out

really efficient right now because we're

not enough impactful with our serve and

that's the main point for us right now

are you going to make any Personnel

changes in set number three yes can you

tell us we're change set opposite like

we like we finished the the previous set

bks well there you go yeah it was many

people might have wondered why TTI was

started but brisard and Pantry have come

in there's a double change so now

they're going to looks like they're

going to start with that and see how

that goes it does give them the option

still there to make the double change

and bring tonti and boair in and really

again trying keep that pressure on the

on the front row indeed yeah I love what

coach span said they've been phenomenal

defensively the United States and I I

would agree with that whole heartly and

then what what the coach for France had

to say as well I love the word he used

impactful we haven't been impactful with

our serve and certainly that's uh very

accurate yeah Lo he's great just like

all the coaches they they tell you how

it is don't they and just yeah it's

great we get we it's so cool to get that

insight and get that just feel like

you're a part of what's going on

it's like we're you know at the Emerald

City looking behind the curtain the

[Applause]

wizard and you've been in you've been in

that

environment it's a special place to be

when you are there how much of it in

this moment are you able to take in or

is it all just kind of it's when it's

finished you can really appreciate what

you've done yeah I think that's probably

the way it is right when you when you're

kind of In the Heat of things you're

just trying to focus on the play at hand

so to speak trying to focus on the game

plan maybe the coaches from one play to

the next have a little insight for you

uh but you're just trying to you know

let things roll like you you heard Micah

Christensen give that great Insight at

the time out that France is trying to

Quick Service so little little things

like that to adjust throughout but then

you really appreciate the moment and

enjoy the moment hopefully after a win

after it's over

[Music]

[Music]

away we go with set number three USA

leading by two sets to nothing in this

first quarterfinal from the men's

volleyball Nations League finals here in

good Poland and that's a tidy start for

Tilly indeed a good that good Tempo it

all starts with a good pass to

allow bizard to hold the middle

[Applause]

blocker nice

ball that's a big

hit so too that's a smart hit from

Tilly yeah I like TJ's reaction there he

just kind of shakes it off and goes hey

what are you going to do cuz it's a heck

of a hit but just a wonderful dig from

Tilly great set and a great High swing

to get the put away from Tilly as

well

RAR they do like that play down to one

France try and jam it up a little bit

for the US it just hasn't come off yet I

like what he was trying to do there the

toss wasn't quite there just trying to

keep it in missed the mark but uh the

thought was good

oh that's going to sting shrug it off

and

apologize you got to be careful there

because you don't want to be banging the

hands of your Setter with your

serve who could save by

Anderson not to be for DeFalco and this

is a very nice start for France

very good

indeed that's a great set from Shi

actually going up the line so difficult

to

locate and you can see patri pull his

hands down to try and avoid the WIP TJ

trying to go deep to the corner just

[Applause]

misses there another chance here for

France this could be

5-1 and it is it's off the

[Applause]

fingers this funny how a change of

personnel can change the momentum of a

team it really is yeah they started with

patri and bizard kind of like we thought

they were going to start the

match uh and that I don't know it it is

interesting how that works sometimes

chemistry is a funny thing and sometimes

you catch lightning in a bottle for

inexplicable reasons

yeah yeah

okay

nice here looks

good still looks good and that is how

you achieve bedad

well played man he was too sure with

that gone but happy that it had gone off

the block and away he just ask where did

that go that's that is interesting

sometimes you know he's leaning pretty

far into the court there knows he got

heavy contact on the

Block sometimes you just close your eyes

in those moments that with a great

way that was unlucky defala got in to

help out a really good swing though from

Tilly yeah the tempo of that play is

what makes it so difficult a great read

from DeFalco but a better swing from

[Applause]

tilling oh that's lovely there's hardly

any room to go but that's the turn that

Hulk makes when he's in the air so

important that's just almost straight

down M's shoulder yeah look at that just

Zips it across his face right to hold in

perfect

position it's just not happening for

defal at the moment he's having a few

Peaks and troughs this is a

trough something he's got to be careful

of just a little bit Yeah I think this

is a good move from SP cuz he is a fiery

player right when those troughs come

sometimes they can get a little out of

hand well he was he was sat down in the

timeout and SPO literally went up to him

and like it's okay A little pat on the

back say it's okay and and now again

having a little chat with him I he's

just trying to figure out what's going

[Applause]

on but there a good another good player

to have actually Mar just here is a

phenomenal outside hitter but this is

great work France are really in control

here in this

set I like the discretion there that

time from the big fella in the middle

doesn't go up and try and Hammer that

again just takes all three contacts

France gets

[Applause]

[Music]

rewarded patri very very quiet player

just goes about the business of being

great doesn't let things that affect him

too much when he makes an

error good

touch FR have set their defense up very

well and their transition play even

[Applause]

better yeah now just the bounces going

France's way some of these balls that

are rattling the block going off the

block and out for France where they were

turning into good defensive Touches for

the United States in the first two sets

and vice

[Applause]

versa well that could be that's the

worry my worry in the minute for France

is they're leaving the door open for the

USA from with their lack of service

pressure we've seen

USA climb their way out of a little bit

of deficit in the second

set it's a shame if jeski had turned the

other way he would have seen that yeah

and a little bit of a nice faint from

the French players as well looked like

they were set to play that ball like

maybe it was on their side show you just

can't quite get there in

time such a difficult run CU you're sort

of on your heels you're in the Danger

Zone on those quick attacks as the

position five Defender

nicely done by there a song about that

isn't there isn't it highway to the

danger zone it is uh a fan of anything

Kenny

loggin that's a great angle right there

from AAL and a wonderful pass from

[Applause]

waga passing's got a lot better for

France oh and the blockings just stepped

up for the US AAL in the house yeah that

thing that pass got pushed over to the

USA's right side of the court right so

AAL was able to follow it doesn't get

baited by the quick as much and closes

nicely for that

stuff

[Applause]

jeski kind of got a roll reversal here a

little bit right the USA pressing a a

little bit too much from the endline

France showing a little bit more

discretion that's a great

serve transition chance all good up by

Shi oh good set oh well played Anderson

another chance for France it will work

patrie with the deest of

touches I I can't get

over every contact grov makes he does

with this kind of like boyish smile on

his face it cracks me up but they're all

wonderful contacts too so that just

makes it all the better couple great

sets there in that rally and again I

can't help but think those bounces off

the top of the block just going right to

French Defenders right now whereas they

were going off the block and out for the

United States in the first couple

[Music]

[Music]

sets br's got rotation one to get going

here only chinazi in a comfortable

position through the

middle well doesn't stop patrie

absolutely ripping it down the line

good sporting Spirit as well just

apologizing to Mr

Anderson yeah this is just great hold

from

chinan I like that position from

Anderson but just a little too much pop

on that from

patri that set I even if we was stood

waiting for it and facing that way we

probably couldn't set it that quickly

yeah and and to think his momentum is

going the direct opposite way of where

he wants that set to go just beautiful

work from Christenson right

[Applause]

there if you're the USA right now you

just got to remind yourself that there's

still quite a bit of this third set left

to play you're not going to recover the

Five Points all in one shot so just keep

doing what got you

here keep the pressure on from the

endline you got to if that means you got

to pull back a little bit so be it

chance for the

US oh well played brizard makes a good

touch oh excellent work that was not

easy for anybody to try and have a swing

then oh not at all some great defense

from both

teams and Anderson ultimately with the

great High swing off the top of the

block as we see that dig from jeski

here's the closer

[Applause]

see what Garett can come up with here

can't put a little pressure on

France he's typically not a green light

guy so you expect this one to be

in great

touch good effort that from Shi but well

played again France is keeping the

pressure on keeping themselves at arms

length that was a great pass from till

cuz that was quite quite a good serve

from

gar little bit of a

hybrid that swing at 90 CM above the

height of the Net 10 cm above the height

of the

antenna flipper from

grov and the power tip from jeski makes

the referees happy about PR

not sure what France wants if they think

that's too much of a throw let's have a

look at it didn't exactly turn the valve

towards him and have a look at it did he

no

no that's fine he's played it and

because his hands traveling with the

ball the ball is away from his hand it

just looks like it stayed there too long

that didn't stay very long at all on

Clo's arm Ace for halt USA coming back

that's interesting we having a chat with

John SP assistant

coach that thing just with a little tail

on it kind of back into the body of

Ceno not the contact hole wanted that

time

[Music]

solid from Anderson yeah and again great

pass from Shi sets that up let's Micah

do his thing get his hitters oneon-one

and that is a good recipe for success

for the USA Matt Anderson one-on-one

against

Tilly the Goof getting in on the action

it's kind of the predicament they're in

though the USA right now you know

they've got to make some serves so

Anderson has to pull back just a little

bit force France to earn the side out

that's good

Ser again Anderson he's just well call

him Mr Anderson call him the ever ready

bunny he's just so reliable it's nonstop

isn't it I was literally going to say

have we ever seen Matt have a bad day I

don't know that it's ever

existed the guy is

just Dr

steady that's a a really good swing from

Prat no chance for that one to be

defended but again he's another player

patri a bit like Anderson in that

respect very similar Styles lean players

get up swing through the ball really

well

easy one for

sh oh well well patri what a hit that

was and now France have got a really

good chance that's quite tight oh

no that's a classic isn't it shi's com

in but he's seen Micah then step and

he's left it yeah that's just a little

miscommunication those are it's strange

how those things happen when you know

things aren't going your way first two

sets that's an easy play for the USA now

that France is on a roll that's a tough

one and how about the swing from bizard

in the middle of that rally pass the

ball make sure we're good with our hands

and in good defensive spots and score

one reel every time you go back by good

defense okay that's what we doing in the

first set good defense take care of your

surve you don't have to Ace your way out

of this we can play good defense right

here deep on 1 2 what you

think other assistant coach Matt

febrer as he was known but it's

interesting from John spr we don't have

to Ace our way out of this another way

of saying yeah let's not go full on we

can make let's like they were doing in

the first two sets making France have to

play the ball off some pretty tough jump

serves but not 100% jump serves yeah

it's uh but that's excellent Insight

from spal right because we've been kind

of talking about the same thing it feels

like the USA are pressing from the

endline right they they can't get it all

back at once so just trust the defense

that's gotten you here put it on France

and make them earn it

wow I think it's one of those saying

isn't it that ball could have done with

a flight

attendant another Quick Serve from

France right on the whistle but USA

ready for

it again we saw before the timeout

bizard Hammer his jump serve like we're

customer seeing and then out of the

timeout he keeps the pressure on wisely

Jake Haynes is coming on 25y Old

opposite he's going to uh cam luin next

season so plays his volleyball here in

Poland he's a big boy certainly

is but the net was just that little bit

bigger it says he's only one

that wild incorrect especially he's just

towered over AAL 2 me and

one going to check those stats again

whoever wrote that they listed that when

he was 13 years old I

think a swing from Garrett there on the

left side a little no lookie down the

line I can confirm he's grown from 198

it's now 210 Jake GES 210 yeah just

slightly off there

it's the USA who are slightly off at the

moment France

pressing there might have been a touch

from waga to there

[Applause]

was 2216 this is I don't want to say

it's all over by the the serving but

it's not far off that is

it nice cover from c

not bisard's got a lovely technique he's

just just before he goes to set he just

is that little flick and he goes behind

it's so difficult to

read watch the way he sets his hands and

then it's lovely that's perfect T Tony

Udi very similar in that regard bards

the uh big physical version of

ton and the go a huge physical Presence

at the net

and it's set point for France

here for those of you supporting France

you certainly didn't want this them to

be going out three nothing for those of

you supporting the USA oh we got another

set to come and for us neutrals yeah

let's go five more volleyball is a good

thing

good up and a nice save but it's a down

ball at best here and France with

another chance to wrap it

up Jesy says no and the USA stay in the

set for at least another point I love

that as soon as jesi plays that ball off

the block sets it in there to Micah and

is immediately calling for that pick

[Applause]

Tatia nice ball brisard with options and

one of them is Tilly and that wraps up

the set for France

2517 USA leading by two sets to one

again a great serve but Tilly just

sticks it then puts away the pipe for

the winner

much better volleyball from France

expect them to keep their same six be

interesting to see now what John SPO

does whether DeFalco comes

backa stays

[Music]

on that will indeed be a very

interesting

choice CU I would say Garrett was quite

good in that third set but do you go

back to the original yeah it has flipped

hasn't

it kind of those same two categories

we've been looking at the opponent

errors and the attacks both in favor of

France and that kind of leads to the

score line we saw as we look at some of

the

[Applause]

highlights David

Smith has been uh relatively quiet yeah

he hasn't been in I think it's it's just

been AAL and Hol out of the middle for

the USA it looks like he might be a

little banged up Dave Smith which is uh

yet another piece to overcome for the

United States cuz he's so steady for

them and I know he'd love to be playing

here in Poland where he's got a lot of

fans play you know he and Shi play for

zaka they won the Champions League and

you know well his mom and dad also

because they were on the uh I happen to

meet them on the flight from Frankfurt

to here oh really okay the only reason I

knew is Cuz Mr Mr Smith had his USA

volleyball bag on and and I said oh you

here you know go to Dev yes said my

son's playing I said said yes David's

playing we've come to see him we're

going to go and spend some time with him

and his family afterwards uh so they

have they're here for a bit of a holiday

so yeah they dearly love to see him play

that's for

indeed this obviously a very critical

set for both teams

here great crowd already here the Ergo

Arena it's filling up nicely expected to

be a sellout the win Poland

play I don't know that there's a better

country in which to watch volleyball

than

Poland now there

are you've got Brazil Pack it and and uh

when Brazil are playing Poland when

Poland playing but also when other teams

are playing Japan when Japan are playing

but they're incredible because everyone

when Japan playing and their opposition

the Japanese fans for those you that

have been and been a part of that or

even watched the tell when the plays

come from the other team everyone in

this oh and there's there's clapping

they support everybody so nicely it's

brilliant Philippines has been amazing

they have been packing every venue for

every game they've created some amazing

atmospheres that all the teams are going

oh wow this has been brilliant because

it's not a home fan base it's a fan base

that supported both teams equally so

yeah it's been it's incredible when you

go around the world and and the support

you get turkey a well I blame the MC's

there they're they're pesky they really

get the crowd going against the

opposition it's noty and try and create

this like pantomim situation yeah but

you got to really credit the kind of the

social media era and also volleyball

world and the access all the fans

worldwide have to these broadcasts and

these players and so forth right for for

kind of that popularity across the

[Applause]

globe full set about to get going our

questions have been answered clay

DeFalco back in for the United stat STS

and it'll be brisard to serve to get

this fourth set

going nice oh that's lovely but

Christensen with his running spikes on

saved the day that was class all the way

around you could see Christensen on his

horse to get there puts up a perfect set

right there and TJ smooth over the top

to the corner right

there H taking just a little bit off

there and it pays dividends that's a

massive block from DeFalco way over the

top and Smith Smith who in so M and Dad

will be pleased and it just say when D

out touched you touched you as he went

down there's a challenge coming here

yeah Mich Christenson seemed to be

pretty sure about this let's see if we

get a look here oh it's TCH Tilly on the

elbow and there and and uh so it's quite

clearly the USA's

ball Smith was kindly pointing out

[Applause]

trying to find that fluidity is trying

to find that Rhythm it's a bit like your

golf swing sometimes you you hit it and

it's brilliant other times you have a

swing and it's just G oh gone left or

whatever and same with your jump

serving I think that's going to be a let

ball that's it's going to be a let ball

there's nothing you can do about this uh

unless unless France have called a

challenge but if they haven't and it's

the scorer's table and the it's gone off

then it's an immediate let it doesn't

matter and the referee pointing this out

it's an immediate

let and and the France are now pointing

out we haven't touched anything okay we

haven't touched the

tablet and it's and it's they saying and

then Lo blaming the scorers table scores

table are trying to keep out of it it

wasn't us don't don't look at

us and now the second ref saying yeah

we're sorry there is a shot clock uh I

say a shot clock I don't want to call it

shot clock because we because of

basketball else a shot clock it's a

serve clock that goes down from 15

seconds and if you haven't served by the

time we get to 15 then it goes off and

that may have been what's happened it

was quite an early serve and we probably

got about 5 seconds into the rally and

the buzz has gone off it may well have

been that the surf clock hav't been

switched off

but and it has to just has to be aect

doesn't matter if the ball was on its

way to the floor you have to have a

redo and it's France who come up with

the

point that's always so frustrating right

when you were just about to get the

point as USA with the wide open

net and then it goes this

way great finish yeah great hand

position

you don't get him twice in a

[Applause]

row he's a very humble player isn't he

Matt

Anderson considering what he's done with

his volleyball career he's uh

unbelievably humble great great human

being 90 attacks coming into this finals

Matt Anderson eight blocks and 14

Aces to Falco with nowhere to go that

ball and maybe a little bit low out

wide but even so you've got a bet of the

ball right yeah the the sets a little

low a little tight perhaps but swinging

as hard as you can is not the answer in

that circumstance if you can recognize

it he catching the old a

little jump jump serve that you just not

putting enough on

he found the range in set number three

but one and two he was pretty absent

from the service line and uh USA would

love to see him go back to

[Applause]

that very nice from

patri possible to tell where he's going

to hit that yeah from our vantage point

it looked like he was going angle all

day right there didn't

it so France got themselves

[Applause]

level patri to bring the jump

[Applause]

serve that's a good leave is it no it's

an a serve from patri do you know what

he's developing a bit of a this his

preserve routine is getting more and

more Awkward looking we we won't see it

here this once he gets it this is

brilliant but it just looks like he's

going to lose the ball as he gets ready

to throw

it is very awkward looking I agree with

you it's phenomenal that he can come up

with that contact with that kind of

inconsistent of a

routine that's a lovely thumb

down oh about that from jeski just

beasting on the four foot line

crosscourt

nice play from

legof and again the bounces some of the

bounces just seeming to go France's way

still P with a good read on that gets a

lot of hand on it but just rattles his

hands and

wide set

Goodness Me Christenson what a set how

about that play as a look at it all the

way full length of the court to Anderson

who's ready and in Rhythm no

less that's next

level Anderson with the

serve well play

grov I look like jesi was going to try

and get his hands out the way we might

need another look get that one how did

he get that did he get it on the

underside of the tricep

[Music]

here almost just kind of floating arms

there

nice well no one's been able to get

control of these little choppy servs at

the

moment the one to one is such a good

serve F in the range just

yet it's not coming out defano with some

soft hands as he's tried to Vol

that that was a nice serve from legof

you could see him try and direct that

deep into the

corner got it just got the def Falco to

back up a little bit just barely misses

his fingertips

that might be off the fingers they're

saying yes I think oh no it's a no from

uh and now he admits to it now this

could be a green card here it is here it

comes well played so green card for

Christensen because he admitted to the

touch once they were about to go to

challenge and so it mind you he did kind

of put his hand up I think so I said yes

to start with to be

fair got minutest of

touches that was very slight

[Music]

is that in yes it is good play

[Applause]

DeFalco I like that from Christensen too

when you're your guys struggling just a

little bit keep feeding them keep

boosting that

confidence good swing from TJ into the

corner

there jesi with a great intelligent

swing to keep keep that rally

[Applause]

alive free ball here for the

us and that time def Falco makes it

count so Even Stevens at the moment in

this pivotal fourth set a must-win set

for

France bzar so big up there forcing TJ

to stay high

good

touch oh it's a real frustrator for

brisard he's having a long look through

the net out of your picture you're

watching uh USA celebrate but brisard

did not like that at all TJ might have

had a few words for

him in any case bizard was less than

pleased time out called by

a great dig from Shi again to start off

that transition play for the United

States

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

all hell the volleyball and the stash

the mustache

jeski with the

serve and an easy lead for

France couple good serves from him to

get the USA

level but again they just haven't been

great in the last set and a half at

stringing those together

[Applause]

what's the call going to be here maybe

for a double

touch that might have been an early

whistle there I think so because it kind

of came down it came off the foot but

was

[Music]

it let's have a look that's a that's one

and that's two cuz he's below the height

of the net so that should be two two

touches

interesting oh he's playing a l oh that

is interesting that is very interesting

I would have argue that first touch was

below but listen you can't block when

you're 2 me off of

an okay okay wait wait wait wait we need

to check it after the game and we will

review it after the game and this needs

to be a mark for

you do you know what Christensen is an

absolute um student of the game um he's

arguing the wrong thing it doesn't

matter if you're 2 Meers off the net if

you're in the front row and you're

blocking you're blocking what he should

have said is the contact was below the

height of the net therefore the foot

contact qualified as a double touch and

that qualifies as a monster block indeed

it does

yeah just one more point on Christianson

I'm pretty sure he was the one that we

could over here saying this is egregious

which I always like big vocabulary words

especially if you're berating a referee

well not when you're going to try and

berate Yuri Maro as a doctor so it is

not going to work on

[Applause]

him nice

[Applause]

pass interesting looked at the the

reception and attack percentage for the

teams that was the the the defal coast

set now when you're playing that kind of

a ball but you really want stiff fingers

on you it's not like you're trying to

volley it for a set it's a very

different Conta you're putting up yeah

it is because you're not absorbing a

ball that's coming at you slowly right

you got to you got to really rebound the

energy back into the ball

[Applause]

[Music]

that one had ail's attack bested right

there

18 both of the that was the return from

the flight attendant there there you go

[Applause]

yeah that's a great

pass and you just know The Middle's

coming but try and stop

it CH has been unbelievable not only his

commit blocking but his attacking as

[Music]

well good

touch free ball though for the US France

reset their block defense

well that will go the way of

France there was an attempt to touch

that by I think maybe

patrie but he didn't get

it oh yes what a block from patri

great they're starting to dial in on

some of those slam dink attempts from

DeFalco look at it

here oh patri with the little Good

Fortune going split block there getting

the right arm on the

line timeout USA France with a

three-point lead

[Music]

[Applause]

boys we're out only down two keep that

mity let's

[Applause]

go now then Richard if you could put

your finger on it what would you say is

the difference what have France done in

the last two sets that USA have had no

answer to yet uh yeah I mean this one's

still pretty close so it's it's not that

the US doesn't have an answer but I

think that their energy is a little bit

more calm the US was so good in the

first two sets and then when France came

back and kind of whipped them in the

third they got they feel a little bit

frantic to me

USA that's a great swing from

Smith I think that's his first hit of

the match yeah he's so good out of the

middle just elevating and finding those

sharp sharp angles to either sideline

look at that facing all the way one way

across his body

just clipped it just clipped

it nice save by

till great

touch bit of a scramble what can Smith

do oh detate oh yes he

can what a

play that's just unbelievable there from

everybody on the US side the Falco

getting that ball off of his own block

right here amazing to turn and find that

and two players out them now out of the

attack yeah and all Christensen could do

was Throw It Up close to the net Dave

Smith mom and dad very proud on that

play No Doubt there jumping up D and Shi

somehow got so excited he's lost his

shoe heard of getting deed in football

but uh you don't think of it Happ

happening too much in

volleyball call it D

sneaker said he couldn't sneak that one

through and neither can

Anderson such a well position block and

it was tough for

DeFalco but he couldn't find the Fringe

could he couldn't you know and I I like

this swing from TJ he's trying to take

something off of it he's not trying to

go for the hero swing but he just gets

chin just right in the teeth of his

[Applause]

block 1513 two in

it and christensen's a back row player

he can't go up he can't stop it from

coming back over on that swing and I

don't know if chin is trying to locate

Anderson in server is one of those spots

where they're going with four

receivers and and Matt just doesn't have

a tremendous amount of reps in this

match he's a great Ser receiver

but this time jesi makes sure of it with

the pass and the attack yeah I mean he's

been the rock for this team K and

Anderson of

course Jess's been unbelievable in all

facets of the game Smith would have

loved that got the GOL to jump with him

he's smiling at him through the

net it can all turn from the service

[Applause]

line however it's a very good side out

despite Smith's best efforts and France

now lead by

three I like that serve from TJ just

taking a little bit off forcing France

to play but they handle it well

that was a great

serve and that's not coming back Ace for

France and a fourpoint

Advantage if that's not right on your

platform good luck to you cuz that thing

is a scud missile coming at you 122 km

an hour that's

fast with little to no rotation as well

[Music]

TJ

off Mar Tia

on patri back to serve

[Applause]

again it's just that spin and he gets

lower and further away way lower and

further away and almost if he's getting

off balance yeah it is he's a phenomenal

player obviously on the right side but

he does have some less than traditional

looks to some of his

actions good ball from

Tilly yeah that was over yeah it looked

like he stepped on the line

there eagle eyes from Rich Lor patri

he's like what me Mah muah

yep well spotted by the camera

operator France have wasted a challenge

they have challenged this and they are

going to lose that challenge and if

you're wondering about the challenge

system you can't challenge for ball in

ball out anymore it's all dealt with by

the technology you can challenge for

foot faults Center Line faults serving

line faults you can challenge for Block

touches ball up ball down last touch net

touch lock

touch and I think that's about

everything and if you get as many you

can challenge that as many times as you

like as long as you get them right you

keep your challenges if you get one

wrong you lose it get two wrong then you

have no more challenges available to you

for the rest of the

set okay I thought you were going to say

execution which you know seem severe

but

Smith oh that's a good

serve excellent blocking off the back of

the Smith serve he's making an impact

and USA are back to within one France

Now call timeout yeah just a couple

phenomenal

serves from Smith Tilly handled the

first one beautifully that one was

impressive that France even kept it off

the floor some great

shoulder-to-shoulder blocking on the

left side right there from jeski and Hol

[Music]

[Music]

[Applause]

Toni not required at the

moment all of a sudden we've got

ourselves a fourth set here but set me

have

both teams giving as good as they

get oh that might have been going out

doesn't matter that went down in a Flash

from

LOF I like that play from Tilly though

if you're uncertain at all absolutely

you want to play that rather than watch

it fall on the endline for a third

successive service point from Smith

[Applause]

oh well well in part now this is why

players put their hands behind their

head not just screen the passes so much

but a bit of protection really so if you

get hit on the hands it can cushion it

slightly oh he tell you what he did that

just in time as well the go he must have

had a sense that that was going to hit

him eyes in the back of his head that's

reserved for our

parents not to be so first serve errow

from Anderson for a while so France now

they're in a a good spot here if they

can keep their side out game going we

could well be going to five sets

jeffro's on might be Third Time Lucky

for him from the serving

line you remember last time he put a

cracker in the Falco handled it

perfectly a good

serve looking for touches it's not been

G oh it has has been given now just the

body language I think it's such a good

call from Yuri mride just waited had a

look at the Players yeah you touch that

I know you I mean it's interesting now

that there's that green card in play for

admitting it but it it's funny when the

players get upset at the other guy for

not calling it as if that's his

responsibility to not try and you know

win the

point there's still a bit of bluffing

going on there still you know a little

bit of uh really you think I touched it

do you

so change coming for France only in so

much as jeffro's gone off lov's come

back on only to go off so glov can come

in three passing unit for France to try

and deal with this jeski

serve what a

block little bit of an interesting

choice right there grov waving off

bizard to take that ball try to run the

offense

which oh that's a great that's a great

close right there from Holt it was a

huge call coming from the USA bench a

double touch against grov set which

nobody else was complaining

about that's a massive swing Shi did

well to get anything on

it France just doing enough aren't they

yeah and again Tilly so steady in serve

receive I mean that's another great

serve right there from jeski really just

lays his arms out and passes it

perfectly

RAR that's not made it and christenson's

definitely given him I never touched

that one it's given him might have given

the medi the the Jedi mind trick we

never know CU there's no challenge

coming yeah but ear marked that play

right there because Tilly decided to not

go straight away with that on the over

over pass came back to bite him a little

bit serving substitution m m

[Applause]

on one of the harder jobs in sports

right here is standing around for three

and 3/4 sets and coming on to try and

serve is the sub's responsibility to be

game

ready it's not bad

serve but it's a good put away

right onto the Baseline and that change

now will come again for the US Jin

looked like he was maybe even a little

underneath that but just up so high you

can direct it over the top into the

corner that was a great serve for

MAA however France going uh getting

their side out two away from the

set oh is it in no it's not here the is

out it did touch chin in the block as

well so no question of that side out say

but what a great chance now France they

can make their side out we've got a set

point

opportunity if that is Christ with the

serve there's always the hardest two

side outs to come up with it

seems jesi turned by the ball and it is

France who have Set Point again it looks

like he's underneath that ball a little

bit but it adds to the height of his

contact

[Applause]

Point

chinazi big swing Anderson that was

almost out of nothing and set point

saved I me that's right into your living

room if you're left front up

there I mean clevel got that ball in a

hurry more self-preservation than

anything great swing from Anderson this

is France's best chance now then if they

can side this out moo totia with the

serve not making it easy

Cleo Anderson to level it all up oh of

course he has of course he has 24 all

and France's one golden opportunity to

get this to five sets as evaporated with

this swing from a from

Anderson just an unbelievable swing high

off loff's left hand right there and how

about the serve from moag totia well not

only that how about the change now

because Timo Carl's come on he's got to

be a target for moag TOA Cleveland has

gone

out shocking to

me Mara can't find him oh how about that

yes of course that's why he was brought

on because the coach knows exactly what

he can

do I mean finding power in the top knot

right there

just up and through the arms exactly top

knot topnotch

[Applause]

swing tough serve from

patri and they' done it it's a block

from brizard 2625 for France take the

fourth set we're going

five brilliant blocking from Brad yeah

that's just class closing that line down

not giving jesi an easy

[Music]

out that's the tail of the match what a

fight back from

had to do it the highway with a break

point and a block they couldn't make it

froms side out here are the

stats France made more errors yeah a

little bit surprising there little bit

surprising see a that stat line better

better in blocks and serving that was

where they were able to bring that

pressure weren't

they yeah we we talk a lot too about you

know statistics telling a little bit of

the story but the time time of the match

the time of the set that those

statistics come obviously very pivotal

as

well and that was one of them that a

serve from patrie he suddenly came good

towards the end of that set really

bringing the

heat just a

SC he's got such a good technique he's

lovely arm swing is all the way back all

the way up gets his hip through and uses

that is the start of the chain the whip

whatever you might want to call

it and then to end it all brisard doing

what T Yi

come yeah that's just a beautiful

beautiful block like I said before

closing that line down not letting jeski

the hitter in this case out

easy and and worryingly for the US their

receiver accuracy was way off really

Christenson having to work way too hard

to find his hitters in comparison to fr

in a much better

[Music]

position yeah we talked at the top of

the broadcast about the depth of both of

these rosters and we've really seen that

on display a lot of players in for both

squads and France really kind of finding

the mix to start that third set off

bizard and patri coming up

huge fabulous comeback though from

France it could have been 3 and0 and

they would be on the bus to the airport

now as it is they're r in it and it's

all to play for this now a race to 15

the coaches have one timeout each only

there's no change at eight

points it's fast and furious and one

team will be furious come the end of

this as they'll be going

home it's interesting with just that one

side change when a match goes the way

we've seen this go all four sets have

been won on our court left oh no

kids well you you get that would you

even when you change we were change ends

every set you still end up everything

was one kind of one or the other it's

like almost magic ends

territory well that was in the days with

you know the volleyball being white and

depending on what the wall was that you

were the ball was coming out you

couldn't even see it some places things

have changed and they brought in the

color little splash of color with a

little bit of blue and yellow and then

change and then now all yellow and blue

to make it more

visible and eliminate that kind of

scenario but fascinating that yeah all

the sets one at the one end where France

are and will get this fifth set

underway but it's not an a serve

start it is a point for the US yeah what

an interesting way to start that with

the serving

show get things rolling early perhaps

[Music]

oh that's an X though Smith puts one

into the hallway of

hesitation the corridor of uncertainty

clay it was it was both yes it was uh

and Smith how good has he been from the

end

line that's a a peachy pass great set as

well we talked about Christenson

one-handed setting but that from brisard

was phenomenal yeah amazing and kind of

the Hang delay swing down the line right

there from

patrie very

[Applause]

good that was a tricky one for Hal to

deal

with no carry call play goes on

and a better chance here for the

US that's great play by

France oh just a bit low couldn't get a

full swing oh I

say what a

rally oh good touch

Christensen that's hitable but it's

going to be a net touch it was just went

too tight in the end and France will

take the

point I mean just phenomenal stuff from

both sides the set the bump set from

Christensen right there

[Music]

[Applause]

unbelievable ji just following through

ever so slightly too

much

rzad oh he's got him they've been

looking for that for this match they

hadn't found it until now but what a

time to get it yeah a little smoother

Tempo on that arm swing finding that

crosscourt range right there right kept

it in

motion didn't slow it down too

much little bit of gamesmanship going on

Christenson just trying to slow it down

a little bit Brar was ready to serve and

they're saying oh there's there's

perspiration on the cour but it

shouldn't be cuz nobody moved it is

interesting how uh things get a little

chippy in these situations tensions Run

High

that's a cracker not coming back it's a

big Ace from

brizard now you can wipe the floor cuz

Shi had to go completely horizontal on

that

one but he's left see B Shi stayed in

the same place though every so he knows

that's a threat but he's left it and

said right go on then try and make it

again and he did didn't

brard this time though he's just shifted

across a little bit

more and they get their side out but how

costly will that prove to be giving up

two points early

on now USA get the side out there I like

what bizard did from the endline though

he got one directly on the sideline

brought it a little off the sideline

with more pace and then kept that one in

forced the USA to earn that side

out nice

cover that may not have made it and it

hasn't made

it so a point back for the US very

quickly even Jin and right there saying

don't challenge that he knew it was

out rer trying to be a little too cool

on that one perhaps didn't quite get it

up high enough for his high fly and

middle tough rotation this for

France I mean oh wow are you kidding me

from

grov that's ridiculously good isn't it

yeah again that's one of those ones if

he were standing out there facing that

direction it would be hard to locate and

he just goes over the right shoulder and

then how about that a little forearm

shiver off the side of the block from

[Music]

Tilly oh good job Anderson didn't go

under the center line ball still in

play yeah that tight rope act gets tough

right cuz you your momentum wants to

carry you under Anderson being aware

that the ball's still in the air for for

a little bit hangs on the

line great

touch and so is that um the advantage

now goes to the

USA that Scoop from Shi unbelievable

just oh one hand just found

it and Garrett High off the hands

beautifully done

pressure being brought now by the serve

of the

US they could be going in front oh they

are going in front with authority right

there just deting bizard in the back

court Matt Anderson over the top look at

this well he's turned his hand into

Thor's hammer right now hasn't he it's

incredible

that was Heavy heat up top yeah and

again Ceno going

out well car's in he didn't have to pass

the last time he just come up with an

incredible swing a very timely kill when

France needed

[Applause]

it that's a good set that is a CCT swing

again

I mean they're not afraid to trust the

kid right off the

bench didn't even he wasn't even in

perfect Rhythm just a twoot hop and then

some Thunder to the corner right there

Bundesliga winner with the Berlin

recycling ballies last

season T

Cal 66 of attack points coming into this

match from the preliminary phases on to

68 now that's a good pass for

waga that play how about it

I mean just throwing out a left hand

just to keep that ball alive and then

the soft shot for the

winner but so goodness there's so much

space to go into as well until he's not

come around he's not covered where the

block has come in now and given up that

the defense at four and he just can't

get there such a well placed attack yeah

not sure if Garrett had that sick sense

that Carl was going to drop his hands

kind of was able to put that shot right

in that spot m's on

good

touch was a bit tight for

Anderson that Net's moving who touched

that and that looked like a big throw

from patri and it's going to go against

him it did look a bit catch and

throwy but the thing is one I think

Anderson may have touched the net as he

played the ball over but we have the

entirety of both benches off the bench I

don't know and I think one because

Anderson played the the ball and may

have touched as he did so but no

challenge came and that's a throw from

patri and they're not happy with it

let's have a look how sticky is

it plenty sticky that's that's a

definite in his hand forward and then

it's released from his

hand but that's in

un that behavior from grov is going to

get him in trouble I think he's not the

captain situation from previous

[Music]

Yuri m not not brandishing the cards

letting the players cool down a

[Music]

[Applause]

bit now this may be something for France

to latch on to to get them going we have

talked about look at that I hope that

don't me we have talked about this

didn't we we were talking about this

before the tournament started about you

know is it something do you need a

situation like that to fire you up to

get you the play well you shouldn't do

really you shouldn't need that but then

it becomes how do you respond right

because France obviously angry about

that can they turn it into determination

or does it become kind of this uh you

know neck pulsing thing that's

detrimental to

[Applause]

game good out by

grov oh yes what a touch

Christensen better chance for

France and they'll take the points no

one knew where it went amazing set from

brisard just I mean unbelievable defense

from both sides right there but how

about how hard France had to work for a

side out right there that's the USA back

on top applying pressure some great

serving Off the Bench right there Mich

Maha doing his job as a

substitute FR earning that one the hard

way patrie from the serving

[Applause]

line it's just reminiscent of uh Sergio

Garcia in goal when he started to grip

and regrip the club and then it became a

problem for him over time where he

couldn't then go to take a swing and it

get a feeling that might be what's

happened with patrie to a lesser degree

at

times

Anderson excellent from MOA

TOA he's been phenomenal here not only

some great

serves that great pass he had with the

left hand and then just some smooth

offense from the kid Club volleyball

teammate of Chase Budinger NBA and beach

volleyball star now down in San

Diego it's an Ace from Anderson and the

DG is working big time the double grunt

the double grunt I like it yeah you know

we talked about USA looking a little bit

frantic in that fourth set somebody who

never has that frantic energy at the

service line right now Matt Anderson

just always calm

collected just out there handling

business and doing so very very well for

the United States right

now good

touch oh W well played by

Cleo I think they're going to challenge

for last touch though are the USA here

they believe that Cleo whilst playing

that ball into the block continue to

play it on

after close that close I don't know that

there's uh definitive evidence o yeah

because the ball's hiding christensen's

arms you don't know if it's still on his

arm whilst it's on the hand of cleau and

that's something that they're going to

have to look at from a few angles Les I

think

here last

USA so block touch

okay is wrong okay got tell me when I

can