US men get off to fast start in volleyball, sweep past France

TOKYO >> After a long wait to get on the court, the U.S. men’s volleyball team made quick work of France in its Olympic opener.

The U.S. didn’t take the court until 11 p.m. local time in the final match of the opening day of pool play but set the tone early by scoring the first five points of the match. The Americans won the match 25-18, 25-18, 25-22, as they try to build on their bronze medal performance in 2016.

The other winners in the opening day of men’s competition were defending champion Brazil, Italy, the Russians, Japan and Iran.

• Beach volleyball player Phil Dalhausser has had a rough start to the Tokyo Games.

The four-time Olympian and 2008 gold medalist has been in modified quarantine because he is considered a close contact of Taylor Crabb, the U.S. beach volleyball player who withdrew after testing positive for COVID-19.

Dalhausser and teammate Nick Lucena practiced together only twice from the time they arrived in Tokyo until their opening match. The Americans lost to defending bronze medalists Robert Meeuwsen and Alexander Brouwer of the Netherlands,

21-17, 21-18.

• Members of the U.S. swimming team cheered and chanted from the stands for U.S. first lady Jill Biden, who sat across the pool and waved as swimming kicked off.

Earlier in the day, Biden watched a 3-on-3 basketball game with French President Emmanuel Macron and hosted a softball watch party at the U.S. ambassador’s residence.