PARIS – Team USA is one step closer to defending its gold medal in women’s volleyball after advancing to the semifinal round of the 2024 Paris Olympics with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-20) sweep of Poland on Tuesday morning.
Haleigh Washington, a 2014 National Champion with the Nittany Lions, continued to make an impact as a starting middle blocker for USA. She contributed three kills, two blocks and an ace in the quarterfinal win.
Washington and former Penn State teammate Micha Hancock, who has also seen time for USA this Olympics, helped USA win its first gold medal in women’s volleyball at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
USA now turns its attention to a semifinal matchup with Brazil on Thursday at 10 a.m. ET. Brazil went unbeaten in Pool B before sweeping the Dominican Republic in the quarterfinal round.
The semifinal contest is a rematch of the Tokyo Olympics gold medal match, which saw USA win with a sweep.