Germany holds off world no. 2 Japan to open men's indoor volleyball action in the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
The first game in the men’s volleyball competition of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 went to a full five sets.
Germany pulled off an early upset in Paris 2024 Sunday (PHL time), taking the world no. 2 Japan to the distance and beating them, 25-17, 23-25, 20,25, 30-28, 15-12.
Facing defeat, the Germans turned to the trio of Moritz Karlitzek, Moritz Reichert, and György Grozer to win the extended fourth set to stay alive.
In the decider, Germany started quick and held off the comeback attempt from Japan, taking the winning start in Pool C.
Grozer scored a game-high 24 points to power the German offense. In a strong all-around effort, he scored 15 from attacks, five from blocks, and four from the service line.
Anton Brehme added 15 for Germany, while Karlitzek and Reichert combined for 21 points.
Meanwhile, it’s a disappointing start for Japan, who rose to world no. 2 following a historic run to end the 2024 VNL season, capping the tournament off with a silver.
Team captain Yuki Ishikawa led the way with 22 points, while Yuji Nishida finished with 20. Ran Takahashi, who missed the latter part of the VNL due to injury, was good for 15 points.
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Story summary:
- Germany Upsets Japan in Thrilling 5-Set Opener: In a dramatic first game of the men’s volleyball competition at Paris 2024, Germany defeated world no. 2 Japan 25-17, 23-25, 20-25, 30-28, 15-12.
- Key Performances and Deciding Moments: Germany's György Grozer led with 24 points, including 15 attacks, five blocks, and four aces, while Moritz Karlitzek and Moritz Reichert contributed 21 points collectively. Their strong performance in the extended fourth set was crucial to their victory.\
- Disappointing Start for Japan: Japan, fresh off a silver medal in the 2024 VNL season, saw team captain Yuki Ishikawa score 22 points and Yuji Nishida add 20, but they fell short in their Pool C opener.
[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital team. The summary was generated by AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]