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It doesn’t get any easier for the United States.
The United States after sweeping France in its Olympics opener will now face another team in the top-five of the world rankings as it plays rival Russia.
Check out all the Olympics indoor men’s volleyball matches to follow on Sunday night and Monday morning and how to follow the matches live.
United States (1-0, 3 points Pool B) vs. Russia (1-0, 3 points Pool B)
Match vitals: 11:05 a.m. (9:05 p.m. CST Sunday) in Tokyo, Japan
Follow live: Live stats, Live video
World rankings: United States (No. 4); Russia (No. 3)
Olympic all-time series: Russia leads 4-2
Olympic appearances: United States (1964, 1968, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020); Russia (1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020)
Olympic medals: United States (1984 gold, 1988 gold, 1992 bronze, 2008 gold, 2016 bronze); Russia (1964 gold, 1968 gold, 1972 bronze, 1976 silver, 1980 gold, 1988 silver, 2000 silver, 2004 bronze, 2008 bronze, 2012 gold)
NCAA players on U.S. roster: Matt Anderson (Penn State 2006-08); Micah Christenson (USC 2012-15); TJ DeFalco (Long Beach State 2016-19); Kyle Ensing (Long Beach State 2016-19); Max Holt (Penn State 2006-09); Thomas Jaeschke (Loyola 2013-15); Garrett Muagututia (UCLA 2007-10); Taylor Sander (BYU 2011-14); Erik Shoji (Stanford 2009-12); Kawika Shoji (Stanford 2007-10); David Smith (UC Irvine 2004-07); Mitch Stahl (UCLA 2014-17)
NCAA players on Russia roster: None
What to know: It’s nothing new — Russia versus the United States playing in a critical international match. There will now be a new entry into the history of the rivalry as the United States and Russia meet with a chance for first place in Pool B on the line. This will be the first Olympic meeting between the two teams since the United States rallied from a two-game deficit to beat Russia in five games to win the bronze medal in 2016. Russia three years later defeated the United States in the gold-medal match of the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Nations League Finals. Opposite Matt Anderson in that gold-medal loss finished with a match-high 18 kills and was named the most valuable player of the Volleyball Nations League. The former Penn State All-American appearing in his third Olympics led all players with 13 kills and zero errors on a .650 attack percentage as the United States swept France in its preliminary round opener on Saturday. The U.S. offense committed six attack errors throughout the entire match, while setter Micah Christenson had 43 assists and guided the team to a .550 attack percentage. Russia recovered from an opening-game loss to beat Argentina in four games on Saturday. Opposite Maxim Mikhaylov in that preliminary round opener had a team-high 14 kills and added three blocks. Russia out-blocked Argentina 13 to 7 with middle attacker Ivan Iakovlev having four blocks to lead all players. The winner of this match will be assured at least sole possession of second place in the Pool B and could move into first place depending on Brazil’s match result.
Iran (1-0, 2 points Pool A) vs. Venezuela (0-1, 0 points Pool A)
Match vitals: 9 a.m. (7 p.m. CST Sunday) in Tokyo, Japan
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World rankings: Iran (No. 12); Venezuela (No. 33)
Olympic appearances: Iran (2016, 2020); Venezuela (2008, 2020)
Olympic medals: Iran (none); Venezuela (none)
NCAA players on Iran roster: None
NCAA players on Venezuela roster: None
Poland (0-1, 1 point Pool A) vs. Italy (1-0, 2 points Pool A)
Match vitals: 2:20 p.m. (12:20 a.m. CST Monday) in Tokyo, Japan
Follow live: Live stats, Live video
World rankings: Poland (No. 2); Italy (No. 9)
Olympic appearances: Poland (1968, 1972 1976, 1980, 1996, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020); Italy (1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020)
Olympic medals: Poland (1976 gold); Italy (1984 bronze, 1996 silver, 2000 bronze, 2004 silver, 2012 bronze, 2016 silver);
NCAA players on Poland roster: None
NCAA players on Italy roster: None
France (0-1, 0 points Pool B) vs. Tunisia (0-1, 0 points Pool B)
Match vitals: 4:25 p.m. (2:25 a.m. CST Monday) in Tokyo, Japan
Follow live: Live stats, Live video
World rankings: France (No. 5); Tunisia (No. 16)
Olympic appearances: France (1988, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2020); Tunisia (1972, 1984, 1988, 1996, 2004, 2012, 2020)
Olympic medals: France (none); Tunisia (none)
NCAA players on France roster: Kevin Tillie (UC Irvine 2012-13)
NCAA players on Tunisia roster: None
Japan (1-0, 3 points Pool A) vs. Canada (0-1, 1 point Pool A)
Match vitals: 7:40 p.m. (5:40 a.m. CST Monday) in Tokyo, Japan
Follow live: Live stats, Live video
World rankings: Japan (No. 11); Canada (No. 10)
Olympic appearances: Japan (1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1984, 1988, 1992, 2008, 2020); Canada (1976, 1984, 1992, 2016, 2020)
Olympic medals: Japan (1964 bronze, 1968 silver, 1972 gold);Canada (none)
NCAA players on Japan roster: None
NCAA players on Canada roster: None
Brazil (1-0, 3 points Pool B) vs. Argentina (0-1, 0 points Pool B)
Match vitals: 9:45 p.m. (7:45 a.m. CST Monday) in Tokyo, Japan
Follow live: Live stats, Live video
World rankings: Brazil (No. 1); Argentina (No. 8)
Olympic appearances: Brazil (1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020); Argentina (1984, 1988, 1996, 2000, 2004 2012, 2016, 2020)
Olympic medals: Brazil (1984 silver, 1992 gold, 2004 gold, 2008 silver, 2012 silver, 2016 gold); Argentina (1988 bronze)
NCAA players on Argentina roster: None
NCAA players on Brazil roster: None