Eight teams faced off in quarterfinal matches to determine which four will advance to the semifinals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
ROC eliminates Canada in quarterfinals
Having fallen just short of a medal at Rio 2016, the Russian Olympic Committee on Tuesday worked its way into the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics, sweeping Canada at Ariake Arena.
The Russians, who lost the bronze-medal to the United States in Rio, was in charge from the outset, winning the first set, 25-21. The second set was the most competitive, Canada making its foe put in some extra work in a 30-28 triumph.
Canada fought off a number of match points in the second, and it showed in the third. The ROC's victory never seemed in doubt as it rolled to a 25-22 closeout.
Brazil bumps Japan from tournament
In the second shutout of the quarterfinals, Brazil downed Japan 3-0 and ended the home team's medal hopes.
The reigning champion was never in any real trouble of being eliminated, but Japan fought to keep the score close in all three sets. The game marked the first time in 29 years that the Japanese men's volleyball team made an appearance in an Olympic quarterfinal.
With the 25-20, 25-22, 25-20 win, Brazil advanced to the semifinals.
Argentina overpowers Italy
Argentina has knocked out two of the teams that stood on the podium in Rio in its path to the semifinals.
It first overcame the bronze medalist by defeating Team USA in pool play and eliminated Italy, the 2016 silver medalist, in the quarterfinals.
Italy took the lead early with a 25-21 victory in Set 1, but Argentina maintained a short memory throughout the match to ultimately win 21-25, 25-23, 25-22, 14-25, 15-12.
France outlasts Poland
In a match that took more than two hours, France rose from the brink of elimination to top Poland in five sets 21-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-21, 15-9.