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Rio de Janeiro • Give the Americans this much: They weren't afraid to follow the narrative they'd scripted for themselves.
Stress? Bring it. Drama? That, too. This all-or-nothing U.S. men's volleyball team kept running into the most difficult of circumstances at the 2016 Rio Olympics. And just as they had throughout the last week, the Americans were close to busting through the adversity once more.
Only this time, they came up painfully short.
Up 2-1, and three points away from booking a trip to the gold-medal match in the fourth set, the Americans saw Italian star Ivan Zaystev score on back-to-back-to-back aces to cap a 6-0 Italy run that brought the match even 2-2.
Zaystev and Italy kept the momentum going in the fifth and final set to stun the U.S. 3-2 (28-30, 28-26, 25-9, 22-25, 15-9). The Americans, so close to playing for gold, will now have to settle for going for bronze Sunday at 6:30 a.m. MDT.
The U.S. will face the loser of Brazil or Russia, who play Friday evening.
Italy jumped out to a 10-7 lead in the decisive set, and didn't allow the U.S. to back a comeback. Former BYU star Taylor Sander was beaten at the net in his tip attempt and soon after served out of bounds. On match point, captain David Lee saw his kill attempt pushed back. The Italians spilled onto the court as the U.S. gathered to embrace.
The Americans apparently had enough of the nerve-wracking back-and-forth showcased in the first two sets. The U.S. dominated Italy 25-9 in the third to take a 2-1 lead. The Americans had an unblemished 10-0 run midway through the set. They ended the set on a 17-5 run. Lee served for nine straight points as the U.S. kept putting distance between itself and Italy. Through the first three sets, middle blocker Max Holt had six blocks — all for points.
On its eighth set-point of the first two sets, the U.S., finally, made good. A serve by outside hitter Matt Anderson dipped over the net and wasn't properly handled by Filippo Lanza. The ace by Anderson gave the U.S. a 28-26 win to pull even 1-1. Italy, like the U.S. had in the opener, led for the majority of the set. Only this time it was the Americans who rallied. Max Holt gave the U.S. a lead 23-22 when a block attempt hit his chest, bouncing on the other side of the net. For the second-straight set, the Italians took it to overtime.
A long serve by Italy captain Emanuele Birarelli eventually gave the U.S. a 27-26 lead. Anderson's ace brought the U.S. back into it after a stunning loss in the first set.
Ahead or tied nearly the entire first set, the Americans relinquished a golden opportunity to take an early lead. Once the Italians brought the electric opener even at 24-24, the U.S. had five ensuing opportunities to put Italy away in overtime, but each time, the Italians answered. Holt gave the U.S. a 27-26 lead that was short-lived. Sander put the U.S. ahead 28-27 with a kill from the back row, but the lead, like all as the first set wore on, disappeared.
At 28-28, a side judge ruled that Russell didn't come into contact with an Italy serve. That sent the entire Italian team - bench included - into a tizzy. Eventually, the ruling was overturned, giving Italy its first lead of the match. Italy needed all of one set point to steal. Sander couldn't handle the serve from Birarelli as his attempt to bounced off his arms and into the floor.
This story will be updated.
Twitter: @chriskamrani