
Check out the Olympics men’s volleyball pool-play matches to follow today and how to follow the match live.
United States (2-0, 5 points Pool C) vs. Japan (1-1, 4 points Pool C)
Match vitals: 9 p.m. (3 p.m. EDT) in Paris
Follow live: Live stats, Live video (Peacock), TV (USA Network)
World rankings: United States (No. 6); Japan (No. 2)
Olympic all-time series: Japan leads 3-2
Olympic appearances: United States (1964, 1968, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020); Japan (1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1984, 1988, 1992, 2008, 2020, 2024)
Olympic medals: United States (1984 gold, 1988 gold, 1992 bronze, 2008 gold, 2016 bronze); Japan (1964 bronze, 1968 silver, 1972 gold)
NCAA players on U.S. roster: Matt Anderson (Penn State 2006-08);; Taylor Averill (Hawai’i 2012-15); Micah Christenson (USC 2012-15); TJ DeFalco (Long Beach 2016-19); Max Holt (Penn State 2006-09); Thomas Jaeschke (Loyola 2013-15); Jeff Jendryk (Loyola 2015-18); Micah Ma’a (UCLA 2016-19); Garrett Muagututia (UCLA 2007-10); Aaron Russell (Penn State (2012-15); David Smith (UC Irvine 2004-07); Erik Shoji (Stanford 2009-12)
NCAA players on Japan roster: None
What to know: A spot in the quarterfinals is already secured for the United States– now it is a matter of getting one of the top seeds for the knockout round. The United States enters its pool-play finale in first place and can clinch the pool title and a top-three seed for the quarterfinals if it beats Japan. Former USC setter Micah Christenson has guided the U.S. offense to at least a .400 attack percentage in each of its two pool-play victories. Outside attacker Aaron Russell leads the United States and is sixth in the tournament with 28 kills on a .521 attack percentage. The former Penn State All-American’s three attack errors through two matches is the fewest errors for any player at the Olympics who has at least 20 kills. This match-up also will feature two of the top serving teams at the games. The United States had 11 aces in a five-game victory against Germany on Tuesday to set a U.S. Olympic single-match record during the rallying scoring era. Former Long Beach State outside attacker TJ DeFalco is tied for third in the tournament with six aces, including having an ace late in the fifth game to help beat Germany. Japan pin-hitter Yuji Nishida leads the tournament with eight aces and is coming off of a match-high five aces in a victory against Argentina on Wednesday. Nishida and pin-hitter Yuki Ishikawa also are in the tournament’s top five each with 31 kills. Japan is in second place in Pool C and one point behind the United States. The team can clinch a quarterfinals berth without any assistance from other match results if it wins at least two games against the United States.
Argentina (0-2, 0 points Pool C) vs. Germany (1-1, 3 points Pool C)
Match vitals: 9 a.m. (3 a.m. EDT) in Paris
Follow live: Live stats, Live video (Peacock)
World rankings: Argentina (No. 8); Germany (No. 11)
Olympic appearances: Argentina (1984, 1988, 1996, 2000, 2004 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024); Germany (1968, 1972, 2008, 2012, 2024)
Olympic medals: Argentina (1988 bronze, 2020 bronze); Germany (1972 silver)
NCAA players on Argentina roster: None
NCAA players on Germany roster: None
Brazil (0-2, 1 point Pool B) vs. Egypt (0-2, 0 points Pool B)
Match vitals: 1 p.m. (7 a.m. EDT) in Paris
Follow live: Live stats, Live video (Peacock)
World rankings: Brazil (No. 7); Egypt (No. 19)
Olympic appearances: Brazil (1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024); Egypt (1976, 1984, 2000, 2008, 2016, 2024)
Olympic medals: Brazil (1984 silver, 1992 gold, 2004 gold, 2008 silver, 2012 silver, 2016 gold); Egypt (none)
NCAA players on Brazil roster: None
NCAA players on Egypt roster: None
France (2-0, 5 points Pool A) vs. Slovenia (2-0, 6 points Pool A)
Match vitals: 5 p.m. (11 a.m. EDT) in Paris
Follow live: Live stats, Live video (Peacock)
World rankings: France (No. 4); Slovenia (No. 5)
Olympic appearances: France (1988, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2020, 2024); Slovenia (1980, 2024)
Olympic medals: France (2020 gold); Slovenia (none)
NCAA players on France roster: Kevin Tillie (UC Irvine 2012-13)
NCAA players on Slovenia roster: None