VILLEPINTE, France – Facing a raucous opposing crowd and the looming specter of losing control of its destiny, Team USA sitting volleyball rose to the occasion. The tone was established early, and the Stars and Stripes wouldn’t relent, picking up an emphatic 3-0 victory over France.

In her fifth Paralympics, Heather Erickson began the game with a message. After two early kills put the U.S. ahead 5-4, she took the ball for her service turn. She wouldn’t give it up until Team USA had a commanding edge.

“I just take a deep breath and let the game be the game,” said Erickson after the game.

The very first ball she served was her first ace. It wouldn’t be her last.

Over the next ten points, she aced the French three more times, and continually drew the opposition out of system, creating easy attacking opportunities for her teammates.

“I was looking across the net, and they were giving us a lot of lines,” said Erickson. “I either tried to move over and hit that line, or I was forcing them to play that line instead of letting them get sucked in.”

Following a loss to China in the opening game, the U.S. needed to defeat France to set up a win-and-in matchup with Italy in game three of pool play. Head coach Bill Haniter knew his team could get the job done.

“We needed to put (the China game) behind us,” said Haniter. “China is a really good team. There are things we were trying on them that didn’t quite work out, and some that did. That’s just stuff you have to do sometimes, so that’s a pretty resilient team, they know how to put it behind them and move on.”

This isn’t the first time this group has faced this adversity In both 2016 and 2020, Team USA, featuring many of the same players, lost to China in pool play before defeating them for the gold medal.

“We have quite a few veteran veterans, and some that are a little bit less, but they’ve been there,” said Haniter. “They understand that the older you get, like anything mentally and emotionally, you know what to do.”

Team USA built on Erickson’s run, winning 21 of the final 22 points in the first set to open with a 25-5 statement. 

However, the two-time reigning gold medalists didn’t take their feet off the gas. The youngest player on the team dialed up another huge service run in the second set.

Despite assuming control of the service with a 4-1 scoreline, Emma Schieck, 23, would be the final server of the set, starting 21 consecutive winning points for Team USA. Her eight aces were almost incidental to her, but on this night, she could do no wrong.

“I pride myself on trusting my teammates, I get to play with the best team out there,” said Schieck. “Putting the ball in play and letting them do their job is my only focus.”

Even as France put just a solitary point on the scoreboard in the middle frame, its home crowd continued to try to make life difficult for the U.S. players. But Team USA is the two-time reigning gold medalist for a reason. With experience and poise, the rowdy cheers couldn’t knock the focus out of the red, white, and blue.

The third set was more of the same. Lexi Shifflett-Patterson’s service run aided in building a 21-3 lead. To the crowd, however, the score might as well have been tied. With every single point that France won, head coach Yohann Escala would continue to egg the fans on to the tune of deafening “Allez Les Bleus” chants.

“It speaks volumes to the sport’s development and to the community that’s growing around adapted sports,” said Erickson. “It’s empowering.”

France won just eleven points in the whole match, failing to notch a single service ace, and registering just three successful attacks. That number was matched by four different U.S. hitters. 

On Tuesday, that matchup with Italy looms, with the winner moving on with a chance to medal. 

“We know it’s a party every time we step on the court,” said Schieck. ”We’re just focused on that.”