U.S. Starts 2024 Olympics with Win Over Argentina

PARIS, France (July 27, 2024) – The veteran U.S. Men’s National Team started the Paris Olympic Games in strong fashion with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-16) victory over Argentina on Saturday.

The U.S. will next face Germany, who stunned the No. 2 team in the world, Japan, in five sets earlier on Saturday. The U.S. and Germany will meet on Tuesday, July 30 at 4 a.m. PT.

Led by setter Micah Christenson, the U.S. hit at a .500 efficiency percentage (38 kills, 7 errors, 62 total attacks).

The U.S. Men also dominated the service line with eight aces to none for Argentina, and also led by five in kills and three in blocks (6-3). The U.S. committed only 19 errors, four fewer than Argentina.

MATCH STATISTICS (PDF)

Outside hitters Aaron Russell, who missed the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo with a hip injury, and T.J. DeFalco each reached double digits for the victors. Russell led all players with 13 kills and added three aces for 16 points, and also finished with a match-high 12 successful receptions. DeFalco led all players with four aces and registered nine kills and a block to total 14 points. DeFalco hit at a .667 clip (9-1-12) and Russell hit .600 (13-1-20).

“Just great to have him back,” Christenson said about Russell’s return to the Olympics. “He is an unsung superstar on this team and deserves way more attention than what he gets. He’s incredible for us.”

Middle blocker Taylor Averill made his Olympic debut a memorable one, scoring eight points with six kills on six attempts and two blocks.

“This is my first Olympics, but I’m 32, I’ve been playing this game for quite some time,” Averill said. “I think that’s the comforting part I keep trying to tell myself coming into this. I feel so grateful to be here, genuinely grateful. After everything that has happened in my life and my past. This is such a gift.”

Opposite Matt Anderson scored seven points on six kills and a block, and middle blocker Max Holt totaled six points on four kills and two blocks.

Libero Erik Shoji and Anderson each finished with eight successful receptions. Shoji led the team with three digs.

The first set was even at 12 when the U.S. went on a crucial 6-1 run to take a five-point lead, 18-13. DeFalco scored four points in the early stages and Holt added two to give the U.S. the lead it would not relinquish in the set. Argentina pulled within four points, 23-19, but kills by DeFalco and Russell finished the set. DeFalco scored six points in the set on five kills and a block, while Russell and Holt each contributed three kills.

Argentina began the second set by scoring five of the first seven points, but the set was tied at 12 when Russell took over with a kill and an ace to give the U.S. the lead for good. He combined three aces with four kills to give the U.S. a four-point advantage, 15-11. He added a kill to finish the set with eight points. Anderson and Averill each recorded three kills.

It was the U.S. who jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the third set. Argentina scored the next two points, but back-to-back points by the U.S., the second on a block by Holt, put the lead back to four. The U.S., who did not allow Argentina to get any closer than two points, took control of the set with a 6-1 run to take a 15-8 lead. Russell registered three kills, DeFalco two aces, Holt two blocks, and Averill a kill and a block to take the seven-point lead. Russell finished the set with five kills and DeFalco also scored five points with a pair of kills and three aces.

U.S. Men’s Roster for the Olympic Games Paris 2024

No. Player (Position, Height, Hometown, College, USAV Region)
1 Matt Anderson (Opp, 6-10, West Seneca, N.Y., Penn State, Western Empire)
2 Aaron Russell (OH, 6-9, Ellicott City, Md., Penn State, Chesapeake)
4 Jeff Jendryk (MB, 6-10, Wheaton, Ill., Loyola Univ. Chicago, Great Lakes)
8 T.J. DeFalco (OH, 6-5, Huntington Beach, Calif., Long Beach State Univ., Southern California)
11 Micah Christenson (S, 6-5, Honolulu, Hawaii, Univ. of Southern California, Aloha)
12 Max Holt (MB, 6-10, Cincinnati, Ohio, Penn State, Ohio Valley)
14 Micah Ma’a (S, 6-3, Kaneohe, Hawaii, UCLA, Aloha)
17 Thomas Jaeschke (OH, 6-6, Wheaton, Ill., Loyola Univ. Chicago, Great Lakes)
18 Garrett Muagututia (OH, 6-5, Oceanside, Calif., UCLA, Southern California)
19 Taylor Averill (MB, 6-7, San Jose, Calif., Univ. of Hawaii, Northern California)
20 David Smith (MB, 6-7, Saugus, Calif., Univ. of California Irvine, Southern California)
22 Erik Shoji (L, 6-0, Honolulu, Hawaii, Stanford Univ., Aloha)

Official Alternate: 5 Kyle Ensing (Opp, 6-7, Valencia, Calif., Long Beach State Univ., Southern California)

Head Coach: John Speraw
Assistant Coaches: Matt Fuerbringer, Javier Weber and Mike Wall
Athletic Trainer: Aaron Brock
Performance Analyst and Technical Coordinator: Nate Ngo
Team Leader: Erik Sullivan
Mental Performance Coaches: Andrea Becker and Peter Naschak
Technical Coordinator: David Dantes
Team Doctor: Lori Boyajian-O’Neill

U.S. Men’s Schedule (PT) at the Olympic Game Paris 2024.

July 27 USA def. Argentina, 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-16)
July 30 at 4 a.m. USA vs Germany
Aug. 2 at 12 p.m. USA vs Japan
Aug. 5 Quarterfinals
Aug. 7 Semifinals
Aug. 9 at 8 a.m. Bronze medal
Aug. 10 at 4 a.m. Gold medal