The U.S. women’s Paralympic sitting volleyball team solidified its place atop the sport, beating China on Sunday to capture the gold medal.
“Women can do anything they put their mind to, and USA Volleyball has the strongest women in the world,” said team captain Kathryn Holloway.
The Americans ended the first set after 18 minutes at 25-12, but China roared back in the second and third, according to NBC Sports.
US MEN’S WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL TEAM WINS FINAL TOKYO GAMES GOLD MEDAL, BEATING JAPAN
The U.S. team took the second set 25-20 but lost the third 25-22.
Going into the fourth set, Holloway sought to inspire her team.
WHAT A ROCKET FROM MATTHEWS! ?@usavolleyball x #TokyoParalympics pic.twitter.com/TLN200Cerx
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) September 5, 2021
“I looked at everybody, and I said, ‘You give it everything you have right now,'” the four-time Paralympian said.
After the game, Holloway said she was also trying to hype herself up.
“I was getting energy chews on the bench and just taking deep breath after deep breath to find anything in me to make sure that that point was the best that I could give,” she said. “I just know that I didn’t want to go to five, that’s for sure. I didn’t even want to go to four.”
The American team took the match in the fourth, winning 25-19.
Paralympic Games veterans Holloway, Heather Erickson, and Monique Matthews led the team in scoring, combining for 60 points.
CHAMPIONS! ?@usavolleyball X #TokyoParalympics pic.twitter.com/cg08TvViA9
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) September 5, 2021
Women’s sitting volleyball first came to the games in 2004, and the Chinese women dominated.
The U.S. dethroned the Chinese team in 2016, and Sunday’s win in Tokyo saw them retain their crown.
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“It is incredible to be in that place,” Holloway said. “We are so grateful to be among the most powerful women in the world in volleyball.”
