US Crushed by ROC After Losing Thompson to Injury

Russia's players celebrate their victory in the women's preliminary round pool B volleyball match between USA and Russia during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on July 31, 2021. Jung Yeon-Je/AFP via Getty Images

TOKYO—The United States’ hopes of winning the first Olympic gold medal in women’s volleyball took a hit on Saturday when they lost ace spiker, Jordan Thompson, to injury in a straight sets defeat by the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) team.

Thompson sprained her ankle in the second set and did not return, watching on from the sidelines with tears streaming down her face as ROC won 25-20 25-12 25-19.