First-timer Slovenia stuns Olympic champion France, while USA gets the upper hand against Japan in men's volleyball of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Olympic Games men's volleyball first-timer Slovenia delivered a stunning upset of Tokyo 2020 champion France right in Paris 2024.
The rookies stunned the hosts in five sets, 25-20, 25-23, 25-27, 22-25, 15-11.
Opposite spiker Toncek Stern led the charge for Slovenia with 28 points coming from 24 attacks, one block, and three aces.
Tine Urnaut took care of the floor with 25 receptions and 11 digs.
Earvin Ngapeth's efforts of 21 points and 16 receptions could not sustain the hosts.
However, both will move on to the quarterfinals with Slovenia taking top spot in Pool A and France in second place.
In Pool C, USA trumped Japan in four sets, 25-16, 25-18, 18-25, 25-19.
Balanced scoring for the Americans saw Matthew Anderson with 16 points from 15 attacks and an ace. Torey Defalco and Taylor Averill had 14 each.
Yuji Nishida was the sole Japanese player in double digits with 18 points.
Pool C leader USA and third-ranked Japan will still head to the quarterfinals.
Joining them from Pool C is second-ranked Germany, who swept Argentina, 25-13, 25-21, 25-21.
Gyorgy Grozer had 16 point for Germany, while Facundo Conte led Argentina with nine points.
In Pool B, Brazil is heading to the quarterfinals after sweeping a hapless Egypt, 25-11, 25-13, 25-16.
Darlan Ferreira Souza had 15 points for Brazil, while Ricardo Lucarelli Souza had 13.
Current Pool B leader Italy will clash against Poland for placement in the quarterfinals this Saturday.
Story Summary:
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First-time Olympic men's volleyball participants Slovenia delivered a stunning upset against Tokyo 2020 champions France in a five-set thriller (25-20, 25-23, 25-27, 22-25, 15-11) at Paris 2024, with Toncek Stern leading Slovenia with 28 points.
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Despite strong performances from Earvin Ngapeth (21 points) for France and Tine Urnaut's impressive 25 receptions and 11 digs for Slovenia, both teams advanced to the quarterfinals, with Slovenia taking the top spot in Pool A and France securing second place.
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In other matches, the USA defeated Japan in four sets to top Pool C, Germany swept Argentina to secure second place in Pool C, and Brazil dominated Egypt in a straight-set victory to move on to the quarterfinals from Pool B, with Italy set to clash with Poland for placement in the knockout stage.
[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.]