United States women’s indoor volleyball team had quite a ball winning its initial gold medals

Karch Kiraly didn’t take long to place the United States women’s volleyball team where it began.

“All I wanted was for this team to stand on the top step of the podium,” said the legendary head coach Kiraly as tears began to fall, “I have nothing else to say.”

Charles Frederick Kiraly, a volleyball legend, the best-ever, got his wish and it was quite a finish for a team that had never won the gold in this event. And following in the sandy steps of U.S, beach champions Alix Klineman and April Ross, it was a marvelous 2002 Tokyo Summer Olympics for the sport.

KIraly hadn’t yet seen the final medal count, but with the Americans comfortably ahead in total medals, they had been chasing China for the gold, and with this volleyball 3-0 shutdown of two-time champion Brazil, the red, white and blue got there with its 39th gold to add to its final total of 113 that included 41 silver and 33 bronze.

Second was China with 38 gold, 31 silver and 18 bronze for 88 points, Great Britain was third with 22-21-22 to equal 65, and host Japan was next with 27-14-17 for 58 points.

It was great to win gold on this day, but it was also a remarkable turnover for the Americans on the volley court. They had previously reached the finals twice against Brazil and won silver. But this was a different outcome that brought a welcomed celebration as the final buzzer sounded and Kiraly finally cracked a smile and hugged all his coaches and his players.

The United States had quite a run, won all of its seven matches, and looked ahead to facing Brazil again, and with that, it brought a sweep of all three sets at 25-21, 25-20 and 25-14. The Brazil team appeared stunned and the Americans looked like joyous winners.

Kiraly had signed on to coach this program in 2012, and in 2016 was granted an extension. And why not after his overall record soared to 109-20 with this biggest win of all.

Said Annie Drews, who played every point with style and fire and aggressiveness  “Amazing, I am so happy for this team. We had excellent coaching with Karch telling us before we began that we are going to win gold this time and to stand on the top step of the podium.”

How true that was. Before anxiously taking on Brazil, these women, all former decorated, headlined NCAA players, put it all together in downing Russia twice, Serbia twice, Germany, France, Italy and the Dominican Republic, all in straight sets.

“Coach Kiraly told us right from the start what we were going to do,” said Jordan Larson, “and we played each match with the words of confidence he offered. We all knew how great a player he was, and he sure is quite a coach what with the staff he assembled and what we learned.”

The 12-member squad had players from eight different colleges, three from Nebraska, two each from Penn State and Illinois, and one each from Texas, Stanford, Pepperdine, Cincinnati and Purdue.