In a thrilling quarterfinal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Italy staged an extraordinary comeback to defeat Japan 3-2 (20-25, 23-25, 27-25, 26-24, 17-15) and secure a spot in the men’s volleyball semifinals. The match, marked by dramatic shifts and intense play, almost saw Italy’s Olympic journey end prematurely.
Japan dominated the first two sets and held three match points in the third set, leading 24-21. However, Italy’s resilience shone through as they clawed back into the game, eventually winning the third set and rallying to take the fourth. In a nail-biting tie-breaker, Italy overcame a late 15-14 deficit to clinch victory.
Italian standout Alessandro Michieletto led his team with 24 points, supported by Daniele Lavia’s 19 and Yuri Romanò’s 19. Despite a stellar performance from Japan’s Yuki Ishikawa, who scored 32 points, Japan’s bid for a semifinal spot fell short.
Italy will now face the winner of the France vs. Germany quarterfinal in the semifinals, while Japan’s impressive campaign comes to a heartbreaking end.