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Nothing comes easy in the Olympics – even with a two-game lead.
The United States survived a potential upset and fought off a comeback attempt as it defeated Germany 25-21, 25-17, 17-25, 20-25, 15-11 on Tuesday in Paris to remain undefeated in pool-play.
Along with surrendering a two-game lead, the United States had to rally in the final game.
The United States trailed the decisive game 5-4 before going on a 6-0 run that featured back-to-back aces from Penn State middle attacker Max Holt. Germany once again rallied back to cut the deficit to two points, but the United States recovered and a late-match ace from TJ DeFalco helped close out the match.
Four U.S. players had multiple aces as the United States finished with 11 aces – five more aces than Germany. This performance also set the U.S. Olympic single-match record for aces during the rally scoring era.
Former Hawai’i middle attacker Taylor Averill led all players with four aces, including two aces in the fourth game. DeFalco, Holt and former Penn State opposite Matt Anderson each contributed two aces against Germany.
Both DeFalco and Anderson also had double-digit kills. The former Long Beach State outside attacker contributed 14 kills, while Anderson had 11 kills highlighted with a game-high five kills in the opening game.
Former Penn State outside attacker Aaron Russell finished with a team-high 15 kills on a .464 attack percentage.
This was the second consecutive match to open the tournament that Russell led the United States in kills and hit more than .400.
Germany despite the loss out-hit the United States .435 to .400.
Pin-hitter Moritz Karlitzek finished with a match-high 19 kills on a .543 attack percentage against the United States. Karlitzek had a combined 10 kills and one attack error in the third and fourth game to help force a fifth game.
The United States with this victory remains in sole possession of first place and could clinch a quarterfinals berth before its pool-play finale against Japan depending on other match results.
The top-two teams in each of the three pools will be assured sports in the quarterfinals, while the two best third-place teams will also advance to the quarterfinals.
Japan lost to Germany in five games in its pool-play opener and will play Argentina on Wednesday. Argentina, the defending bronze medalists, suffered a three-game loss to United States on the opening day of the tournament.