The U.S women’s volleyball team is one step closer to repeating as gold medalists after defeating Brazil in Thursday’s Paris Olympics semifinals.

Team USA women’s volleyball will now go on to defend its Olympic gold medal after defeating Brazil in the five-set thriller. The semifinal match was a back and forth game with no team winning two sets in a row. The U.S. needed five sets for the 3-2 win with a total score of 106-99 against their rival Brazil — with the United States winning the first, third and fifth sets, and Brazil winning the second and fourth sets.

Leading the way was Olympic rookie Kathryn Plummer, who pushed through her battle with the flu to lead Team USA with 26 points (23 kills), including the final swing to make it official. Avery Skinner, also playing in her first Games, added 19 points, while veteran Annie Drews came up with 17 timely kills in the match.

The United States has won medals in each of the last four Games (gold in 2021, silver in 2008 and 2012, bronze in 2016); after beating Poland in the quarterfinals, the women’s volleyball team went on to face Brazil, a medal favorite who won silver in Tokyo.

The U.S. will play the winner of the Turkey vs. Italy semifinal game in the gold medal finals.

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