The U.S. women’s volleyball team didn’t get to play for a medal of any color in its world championship title defense.
The Americans were bounced in the penultimate, six-team round with five-set losses to China and the Netherlands. China, the Netherlands, Italy and Serbia will play for the medals later this week.
The U.S., which won its first major tournament title of any kind at the last worlds in 2014, squandered a two-set lead 30-32, 15-25, 25-22, 25-15, 15-9 to the Dutch on Monday in Nagoya.
“Ultimately the result is very disappointing,” U.S. coach Karch Kiraly said, according to USA Volleyball.