Tokyo Olympics end with gold for USA women’s volleyball

The United States women’s national volleyball team can now call themselves Olympic gold medalists.

“I want this program to experience standing at the top of the podium,” U.S. coach Karch Kiraly said. “I have no other words.”

The Americans swept Brazil 25-21, 25-20, 25-14 at Ariake Arena on Sunday, their first gold medal and sixth medal overall.

“It’s everything we wanted it to be,” American Haleigh Washington said. “The hard work we put in, the sweat, the tears, the blood.”

The U.S. were the silver medalists at the 2016 Rio Olympics and then won three consecutive Volleyball Nations League championships leading up to Tokyo.

The Americans also has three bronze medals and two silvers.

Former Stanford All-American Foluke Akinradewo scored five points on four kills and a block.

Purdue alum Andrea Drews led the U.S. with 15 points on 14 kills and a block. Michelle Bartsch-Hackley added 14 points on 11 kills, two blocks and an ace. Jordan Larson recorded 12 kills.

The U.S. played without star Jordan Thompson, who sprained her ankle in the quarterfinal round.

Serbia won the bronze medal, beating Korea 25-18, 25-15, 25-15.

Men’s water polo

Stanford alums Ben Hallock and Alex Bowen each scored twice but the United States fell to Croatia 14-11 in the fifth-place match at the Tatsumi Water Polo Center on Sunday.

Former Cardinal standout Drew Holland recorded 16 saves with a 53% save percentage for the Americans, who finished sixth, their best Olympic showing since the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The U.S. did not make it out of preliminary round in 2016 (finishing 10th) and placed eighth at the 2012 London Olympics.

A Tony Azevedo led American team earned the silver medal in Beijing. Outside of the exhibition series in 1904, the U.S. has won three silver medals and three bronze medals.

Men’s track and field

Stanford grad Jacob Riley finished 29th in a field of 106 marathon runners (76 finished) at Sapporo Odori Park on Sunday.

Riley completed the course in a season-best 2:16:26, nearly eight minutes behind gold medalist and world record holder Elud Kipchoge of Kenya, who was timed in 2:08:38.

By Rick Eymer

By Rick Eymer

By Rick Eymer

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