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The USA Volleyball Cup begins today as the United States begins a two-match exhibition series against Brazil.
Check out the match-up between the gold and bronze medal winners at the 2016 Olympics and how to follow the match live.
United States vs. Brazil
Match vitals: 7:30 p.m. in Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Follow live: Online video, In-match tweets
What to know: The U.S. Men’s National has a match on a home court for the first time since winning the bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. The United States will continue its four-match exhibition series versus Brazil with the first of two home matches this weekend at the Sears Center. The defending Olympic gold medalists Brazil playing in front of its home crowd defeated the United States in the first two exhibition matches, including a five-game victory on Tuesday. The United States, though, was without opposite Matt Anderson and outside attacker Aaron Russell. The two former Penn State All-Americans are both on the U.S. roster for these two home matches after not competing in two recent exhibition matches and during the 2017 FIVB World League. Anderson was second among all players during the 2016 Olympics with 108 kills. He also had a team-high 18 kills to help the United States rally from a two-game deficit to beat Russia in the bronze-medal match. Russell finished third in the Olympic tournament with 33.50 percent offensive efficiency and contributed 96 kills. Without these two players in the lineup, former BYU All-American opposite Ben Patch led the United States with 11 kills in the series-opening loss versus Brazil. In addition, Patch was one of nine players to have more than 100 kills in Group 1 play of the recent FIVB World League. Patch was among the several U.S. players making their international debut who helped the team reach the 2017 FIVB World League Finals. Brazil entered this exhibition series after losing to France in the gold-medal match of the FIVB World League in July. Outside attacker Ricardo Lucarelli Souza led Brazil with 22 kills in the championship loss, while opposite Wallace De Souza added 19 kills. Both the United States and Brazil are playing these exhibition matches in preparation for the upcoming FIVB Grand Champions Cup beginning Sept. 12 in Japan.