PARIS, France — A Paralympian from Iredell County is hoping to earn Team USA its third straight gold medal in women's sitting volleyball at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
Emma Schieck and the United States faced Italy on Tuesday, needing a win for a chance to advance to the semifinals for the sixth straight time. The U.S. team ultimately beat Italy 3-0.
The team will compete against Brazil in the semifinals at 12 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5.
It comes after Team USA lost to China in its first game on Friday, Aug. 30, 3-1 before blanking France 3-0 on Sunday, Sept. 1. Schieck led Team USA with 11 points in the win over France. She also had three blocks and appeared in all three sets in the dominant win.
Schieck graduated from South Iredell High School in Statesville where she was a star player on the team's volleyball team, even with nerve damage impacting her left arm. She later went on to join Team USA's sitting volleyball team and played with the team during the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, where the team won gold.
The United States has won the last two gold medals in the women's sitting volleyball event. Team USA beat China in both 2016 and 2021. The U.S. won silver in 2008 and 2012 and won bronze in 2004, the first year women's sitting volleyball was offered at the Paralympics.