OSIJEK, Croatia — There is still fight left in the Team USA at the U19 volleyball World Championships.

Down two sets, defending champion Team USA came back to defeat favored Germany 25-18, 26-28, 17-25, 25-15, 25-13 on Tuesday in the round of 16.

Team USA (4-2) advanced to meet Italy (6-0) at 3:15 p.m. on Friday in the quarterfinals in Osijek. The match will broadcast live on the Volleyball World YouTube channel. Italy was a 25-17, 22-25, 25-12, 25-12 winner over Argentina on Tuesday in its round of 16 match in Serbia.

The winner of that match would play the winner of Poland and Japan in the semifinal on Saturday in Osijek. The other quarterfinals are Turkey vs. China and Brazil vs. Bulgaria.

Crestview High School graduate and University of Pittsburgh freshman Abbey Emch played briefly in the third set for the USA.

“Another five-set battle against a physical, well-coached and passionate German team. I am thrilled with our team’s ability to take lessons from our pool play matches,” U.S. head coach Keegan Cook said. “Our depth and flexibility were key once again to advancing in the tournament.”

The U.S. controlled the net with a 19-11 advantage blocking and also doubled up Germany in aces (8-4). Germany recorded 48 kills to 45 for the U.S.

Libero Lily Hayes finished with match-highs of 15 digs and seven successful receptions. Setter Genevieve Harris totaled 23 assists and eight digs.

A balanced U.S. attack saw five players score either 12 or 13 points. Outside hitter Suli Davis scored 13 points on eight kills, three aces and two blocks, adding 13 digs and four successful receptions.

Middle blockers Jordan Taylor and Gabrielle Nichols combined for 13 blocks and each scored 13 points. Taylor contributed five kills and an ace with a match-high seven blocks, while Nichols registered seven kills and six blocks.

Outside hitter Cari Spears scored 12 points on 10 kills and two blocks, and opposite Henley Anderson contributed 12 points on 10 kills, one block and one ace. Outside Devyn Wiest totaled seven points on five kills and two aces.

With the first set tied at 14, the U.S. used a 6-1 run to take a five-point lead as part of an 11-4 advantage over the final 15 points of the set. Spears scored four of the final eight U.S. points with three kills and a block. Anderson recorded an ace and a block down the stretch. Davis scored five points on four kills and a block.

The second set featured multiple lead changes and each team fighting off two set points before Germany scored the final three points of the set to square the match at a set apiece. Davis scored four points on two kills and two aces, and Nichols totaled four points on two kills and two blocks.

With the third set tied at 14 on an ace by Kelly Kinney, Germany scored eight consecutive points to take a 22-14 lead and finished the set on an 11-3 run. Anderson led the U.S. with four kills.

Trailing 10-9 in the fourth set, the U.S. went on a 6-0 run to take a five-point lead. The string included a block by Taylor and a kill by Spears on a ball that looked like it would be a Germany point but bounced off her and over the net to an open spot.

Anderson recorded consecutive kills, the first on a back set from Harris, for a 23-14 lead. Another Taylor block gave the U.S. set point, which it converted two plays later to send the match to a fifth set.

Taylor recorded three blocks in the set, adding two kills and an ace for six points. Nichols also contributed three blocks.

The deciding set was close from the outset. The U.S. took a two-point lead, 7-5, on a kill from Taylor and a block by Nichols on a rally kept alive by a great save from Spears. Two Wiest kills and a Taylor block gave the U.S. its biggest lead of the set, 11-8, but Germany scored the next two points to close within a point. The teams exchanged points the remainder of the set.

Spears scored for 12-10 and 13-11 leads and then came up with a huge block when Germany was swinging with a chance to tie the set at 13. Germany scored the next point but a hitting error on the final point sent the U.S. to the quarterfinals. Spears finished with four points on three kills and a block.

“I’m just so proud of our team and this win because every single person contributed to us winning the match,” Spears said. “Being test like this early was necessary because we know from here on out that every single match will be a fight. This was a huge win, and we’re so excited, but we know we have more games to win.”