We're almost at the finish line. There's only 12 teams left in the tournament at this point, the 4 semifinalists and finalists on the men's side and the 8 quarterfinalists on the women's side. The men start the day, playing their semifinals on centre court uncontested by any outer court matches. I decided to be a total sexist and split my reports today along gender lines. That means we start off with
Huber/Seidl vs. Nicolai/Lupo
I mean who knows anymore. This Austrian team probably 'should' have been eliminated (whatever that means) six ways from Sunday by now. But they're still standing, and no team makes it this far without beating some quality opposition on the way.
This stream had more camera angles than those of previous days, which is nice. Not really anything more than that, because volleyball, like basketball, is a sport that works just fine from a single, fixed point of view, unlike sports such as baseball or football with a far larger playing area. The part that bugged me a little was the on-screen scoreboard coming and going. But what can I say — I got my money's worth 😀
It was even at 7-all through two side switches, despite the Austrian hitter stumbling and nearly falling on the last point. The first point after the switch featured the Italians hitting a teeny weeny little roll shot that just barely cleared the net. The Austrians got the dig, giving them the opportunity to take one on serve, but their return shot flew wide. The Italians took a 2-point lead at 9-7, but the Austrians got the next two right back to tie it again, and then one of their own on serve to go up 10-9. 10-all was a great rally, ending with a block for Seidl to send us to the automatic timeout.
The skies were again grey, and the flags were flapping in the wind. The Italians took the lead back at 13-12 as my connection cut out for a second (see why we need onscreen scoreboards?) and made it back to two at 14-12 with a kill for Nicolai after some weak offensive execution by the Austrians. The lead reached three at 15-12, but a sideout an ace for the Austrians got them back to within a point. Both Italians showed tremendous transition play on their run extending back to three ahead at 18-15, going from defence to offence with effortless ease. Lupo's kill off hands and out made it set point for the Italians at 20-16, and Nicolai's kill put it away on serve.
A pretty conspicuous net fault on the Austrian side put the Italians up 4-3 after one side change in the second, as it was essentially sideout after sideout. This pattern continued to the second switch, coming, just as in the 1st, set at 7-all. The Austrians had a chance to go up a point at the midway mark, receiving serve on 10-10, but they did not put together a very good attack and the Italians took the point and slender midway lead.
The Italians took the second set's first 2-point lead at 13-11 on a nicely-timed block for Nicolai. The Austrians went sneaky to take it back, tying it at 13 again with a roll shot on 2 that looked like it was going to be a bump set until the last possible moment. Huber's great serve on 15-14 disrupted the Italian offence such that they had to send over a free ball, and Seidl's swing for the kill was so emphatic it knocked his hat off. Lupo had a similarly strong hit a few rallies later, making it 16-all. Sideout after sideout continued to make it 18-17 at the fifth change. Lupo seized an opportunity after a weak Austrian attack on 18-all to give the Italians the lead again, and Nicolai's block brought them to match point at 20-18. A service error saved the first match point for the Austrians, and the timeliest of blocks sent us to extras tied at 20. Italy finally put it away 23-21 after an Austrian overpass ended up in the waiting hands of Paolo Nicolai.
While it bears remembering that the Austrians fell down a set to Brouwer/Meeuwsen yesterday (and in their third match of the day no less) before dominating sets 2 and 3, it certainly seemed from appearances that they may have today simply run into a team too good for them to beat.
Ricardo/Alvaro vs. Dalhausser/Rosenthal
The Americans played a nice point down 2-1 early, as Dalhausser used every inch of his near 7 foot frame to splay out for a ball, which of course gave him the opportunity to hit as well. He didn't disappoint. That kill also rotated him back to serve, where he went on a little run to put the USA team out on top a point at the first side switch. But it was the Brazilians who led after two switches, 8-6, some great net play by Ricardo proving the difference. And when your task across the net is Phil Dalhausser, you better bring it. The Brazilians targetted Dalhausser with their serves, a pretty unusual tactic. It was working early on, though, as they extended to a 10-7 lead, though a block for Dalhausser brought the Americans back within a point at 11-10.
Another block coming out of the automatic timeout made it even once more at 11-all. Another one put the Americans out on top again, and another one made it 13-11, and timeout Brazil. Ricardo at last ended the run, coming out of the team's charged timeout, and a kill for the diminutive Alvaro tied the set again. It was even at 14's through four side changes. The Brazilians found a mismatch on 15-14, as Rosenthal somehow had to contend with Ricardo at the net. It went about how you'd expect, with the Brazilians going back up two. The Brazilians extended to 18-15, and it looked for a moment like the Americans might pull back a point as Dalhausser's serve on 18-16 just barely cleared the net. But the Brazilians got it and played a brilliant point ending with a roll shot that landed just in between the two Americans. After another Dalhausser block made it 19-18, Alvaro stopped to clean off his sunglasses — tactics if I've ever seen them. On set point at 20-18, the Brazilians made the odd choice to serve Dalhausser, and he got the American side the needed sideout. They couldn't save off the second point on reception, though, dropping the 1st 21-19 for their first set loss in Fuzhou.
3-2 in the second was probably the point of the match, the ball heading over the net numerous times. It ended with a softie kill for the Brazilians, coming on serve to go up two. They took the next point as well to go up three at the side change. They continued their tactic of serving Dalhausser, and he flubbed on service reception on at 6-3, the ball falling away for an ace. Down four rather shockingly early in the set, the Americans came even at the second switch, with another Dalhausser block tying things at 7. It was sideout after sideout from there to the midpoint, 11-10 Brazil with the slender advantage. They took their first point back from the timeout to go up two, but the Americans responded, a couple of blocks for Dalhausser and a couple of kills for Rosenthal putting them ahead 14-12. The Brazilians tried to get a little too cute on the next rally with their dump shots on 2. The Americans had a chance to go up three, but they bailed Brazil out with a net fault. Rosenthal and Dalhausser took a terrific point in advance of side change number four with them reversing their typical roles, as it was Phil diving for a ball in the back row and Sean coming up with a block.
After the Brazilian charged timeout down 15-13, it became sideout after sideout again. The Americans continued to show their versatility, both in skill and in style. The Brazilians kept mostly serving Dalhausser, and he wasn't bombing every hit. He was putting on just enough to get it done. He got a typical monstrous block on his serve to go up 18-15. The Americans reached set point at 20-17. Brazil saved one off on serve and then got a Dalhausser block to land out of bounds. At 20-19, they served Rosenthal, but Ricardo was ready and waiting for his hit with a nice block. Brazil scored on serve in extras first to make it 23-22. Their first match point was a terrific rally, as the jump-float serve nearly landed in for an ace, forcing Dalhausser to lay out for it. Rosenthal then sent over a rather weak hit on 2, and the Brazilians responded with a hit on 2. You wouldn't figure that'd be the best choice, but Dalhausser still wasn't on his feet yet (the play was that fast), so sending it back ASAP probably was the best choice. They kept it alive, and Dalhausser eventually got the Americans the match-saving point. They faced match point again down 24-23, and called timeout to perhaps ice the server.
The Americans saved the next match point when a Brazilian hit landed wide, then made it back to set point for themselves when Rosenthal's hit found hands on the way out. One point after the seventh side change, the Americans put it away, Rosenthal's swing rebounding off Alvaro on its way out.
Brazil scored on serve first with the lefty Alvaro coming up with a huge swing to make it 3-2 at the first side switch. A good, disruptive serve for Rosenthal on 4-3 USA nonetheless ended with a point for Brazil, as their frantic return managed to find unoccupied court. It was even at 5 after two switches. Brazil took a potentially crucial point on serve on 7-6 (to make it 8-6) with Alvaro's attack rebounding off Rosenthal and out. They made it three at 10-7, but the Americans got back within two at 11-9 (facing reception) on the fourth side change. A long rally on 11-10 ended in the Americans' favour with a huge spike for Dalhausser. Brazil got the first opportunity at match point at 14-13, but could not put it away. Then 14-all was a very long rally, eventually ending with a kill for Rosenthal — and an ovation from the crowd. Brazil called their timeout there.
After a few sideouts to extend the match, Alvaro took one off the face on 15-all. It took him a moment to get up, but the fans gave him a nice, appreciate spate of applause for his Tough-Guyness. And then he came up with the equaliser to make it 16-all. Brazil saved off match point on 17-all as well. Alvaro almost came up with the kill to give Brazil match point again, but it was ruled to have not touched Dalhausser on its way out. Close call either way. The big man netted his subsequent serve to tie it again at 18. A softie for Phil made it 19-18 USA, and then Sean finally put the match away on the next ball.
Huber/Seidl vs. Ricardo/Alvaro
Time at last to hand out some hardware, as this was the bronze medal match on the men's side. The second rally of set 1 was one of the best of the whole week, ending at last with a 4 contacts call on the Brazilians. The Austrians took the one-point edge at the first side switch on the heels of a block by Seidl. Great effort by the Austrians on the 5-5 rally, as Seidl lost his hat on a tenuous joust with Ricardo, and still nearly legally returned the ball (he was called for a lift). It was 7-7 after two switches and 11-10 Austria on serve at the halfway point.
After two sideouts, the Austrians took what I think was the first point on serve either side had in the match to go up two at 13-11, but it was tied again at 14's on the fourth switch. Austria prompted Brazil's charged timeout at 16-14 and then extended their lead to three with a big block from Seidl. An ace put them up four at 19-15, and they reached set point at 20-16. They put it away after three attempts, winning 21-18.
The Brazilians struck first in set 2, leading 5-2 through one side change and 8-6 through two. If net faults weren't a thing, they'd have gone ahead 9-5, but Ricardo's follow through on his attempt on that rally left him ass-under the net with his neck kind of twisted back in an awkward position. Probably hurt like hell for a second or two. The Austrians interestingly burned their timeout on 10-8 despite the fact that it had been sideout after sideout for several plays. There was no real 'momentum' to try to disrupt. The difference was just a single point at the halfway mark.
Austria got their point on serve to tie it at 11's, and then Huber's kill to put them on top 12-11 prompted Brazil to call time. Ricardo got the kill to even the match again after the timeout, and the Austrians protested that he should have been called for a net fault (I think). No such call came. Austria established the always-important late two-point lead at 15-13 with Seidl finding the block against Ricardo. They established a three-point lead at 19-16 and nearly made it to match point on the next rally, doing a great job of keeping the ball alive but being unable to get the block up over Ricardo. But the Brazilians didn't eat into the lead and Austria celebrated bronze with a roar, the second set ending just as the first, 21-18.
Dalhausser/Rosenthal vs. Nicolai/Lupo
That's a matchup befitting of some gold being handed out. A shot at a little Olympic retribution for Phil, though I'm sure he doesn't really care about such things. Both teams have, of course, looked phenomenal this week. Nicolai and Lupo looked better in the semis. I'd say that was because they had the easier foe, except they had the team that won the bronze final. So who really knows anymore? All of us should stop trying to pretend like we do.
It was all sideouts preceding the fist change. Italy scored on serve first to go up 5-3 with Nicolai rejecting Dalhausser on a perfectly-timed block. The Americans brought it back even at 6 when Nicolai was whistled for a net fault, though it looked like Dalhausser could have been called for one too. The American run extended to 8-6 with a block for Dalhausser in advance of the side change. The Americans had a chance to go up three during the 9-7 rally, with Dalhausser getting a few good block touches but Nicolai eventually finding the sand for a kill. Lupo followed him up with a service ace to tie the set again at 9's. 10-9 was a great, long rally, ending in favour of the Italians as the last, sprawling attempt at a dig from Dalhausser came up just short. He slammed home the next ball, though, to make it 11-10 USA at the halfway point.
Dalhausser came up with an ace on the first serve after the midpoint timeout, but the Italians nearly got it back over. I tell you though, it was one of those where even if they did, it wouldn't have really mattered or made a difference. 13-11 was a missed opportunity for the Americans, as Rosenthal got a pretty easily diggable shot and made a fine pass to Dalhausser, but Dalhausser instead of setting sent it over on 2, kind of half falling ass-backwards as he did it. That proved diggable for the Italians, and they got the point on the next volley. They got the point back, though, on 14-12, with Dalhausser's serve badly disrupting Nicolai and Lupo. Dalhausser made sure to dig their feeble return so he could take the hit, which wound up being more of a joust. He still won the point easily. I then lost my connection for a few points, but the score when I got it back suggests it was just sideout after sideout.
On service reception at 19-17, the Americans got a serve that it looked like either of them could field, so Dalhausser went for it, but he badly mis-handled it. His pass flew laterally wide of the court, and while Rosenthal did catch up to it, they could not manage a legal return. The Americans then called time, their advantage down to a point at 19-18. Dalhausser made up for it on the next ball, passing quite adeptly and slamming home the kill. They converted set point on their first chance, with the Italian hit landing just long.
The first rally of set 2 was an interesting one, as the Americans didn't run a great offensive set but were bailed out by another Italian hitting error. The Americans took a quick 2-point edge and held it to the side switch, leading 4-3 on reception. They took the first two after the switch to take their first 3-point lead of the set at 6-3, extending to 4 at the second side change after a Nicolai hitting error. On the next rally, Dalhausser showed perhaps one of the most underrated skills in volleyball by leaping for a block, but letting it go as the ball landed out. Judging that, while being 8 and a half feet above ground, in a split second? Not easy. Now down five, Italy called their timeout.
Italy went on a little run after their timeout, closing to within 2 at 10-8 when Dalhausser's hit was called out after a long rally. Replays showed it should have been called in. Nicolai beat the block to bring it to the halfway timeout at 12-9. The teams traded service errors into the net after the timeout, but that's advantage USA, of course. Lupo's serve on 13-10 also hit the net — but it crawled over, for an ace. After a string of sideouts, another ace, this one for Nicolai, made it a 1-point set at 16-15. Rosenthal's moonshot on the next rally landed wide, as he motioned for the Italians to be whistled for a net fault. You don't often see a competitor get a call they so blatantly ask for, but Sean got it here, keeping the Americans in the lead. But on 17-16, one of the best serves (or worst receptions) I've ever seen, coming from Lupo, knotted the set. The Americans looked…. a little silly flopping for the ball like they did. They called time, to regain themselves.
Another tough serve on the first ball after the timeout sufficiently disrupted the Americans to allow Lupo to easily find open court. Dalhausser stopped the run on the next ball, knotting the set again at 18. On 18-all, the Italian set failed them. Their serve reception was okay — the ball going sky high — but Nicolai's bump set was much too close to the net, allowing Dalhausser to jump up for a joust. The Italians wanted a net call, but they didn't get it. They brought the match even once more on 19's, but Rosenthal made it gold medal point at 20-19.
Lupo's hit on 20-19 just barely snuck in, making it extras once more. Rosenthal made a terrific hit on 20-all, looking like he was winding up to obliterate the ball but instead just rolling it to open court. But Nicolai had the equaliser once again, getting the kill off Dalhausser's block touch and out to make it 21-all and a side change. Dalhausser's kill following another so-so serve reception gave the Americans their third gold medal point. Rosenthal and Dalhausser both laid out for the ball twice on that rally and did an amazing job to keep it alive, but the second time they were called for 4 hits. The crowd were quite appreciative of the effort anyway, giving a louder-than-average cheer. Finally, on their fourth attempt to seal the deal, Dalhausser got it done with a big stuff block.
It was a nice tournament for the American duo, though weirdly, today was probably their worst day. I suppose it's par for the course of facing their best competition today, and when your worst is still a couple of W's — that's all right!
Day Four results
Semifinals
Nicolai/Lupo d. Huber/Seidl (21-16, 23-21)
Rosenthal/Dalhausser d. Ricardo/Álvaro Filho (19-21, 26-24, 20-18)
Bronze medal final
Huber/Seidl d. Ricardo/Álvaro Filho (21-18, 21-18)
Gold medal final
Rosenthal/Dalhausser d. Nicolai/Lupo (21-18, 24-22)
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