The U.S. men's volleyball team faced a heart-wrenching defeat against Poland in the semifinals of the Paris Olympics, losing in a tightly contested five-set match (25-23, 25-27, 14-25, 25-23, 15-13). Despite the loss ending their hopes for gold, the Americans still have a shot at the bronze medal, set to play the loser of the Italy-France match. Matt Anderson and Aaron Russell led the U.S. with 24 and 20 points, respectively, while Poland's Wilfredo Leon topped the match with 26 points. Australian beach volleyball players, after their semifinal loss to Brazil, expressed disappointment but remain focused on securing a medal in their next match. Both teams are now preparing to compete for bronze, highlighting the emotional rollercoaster of Olympic competition. Head Coach John Speraw emphasized the importance of regrouping mentally to pursue the bronze after their gold medal ambitions were dashed.