US setter Jordyn Poulter recovers from serious knee injury to lead Americans into Olympic semifinals

PARIS (AP) — Moments before match point of the Olympic quarterfinals, Jordyn Poulter punched herself in the outer thigh.

It wasn’t a motivational tactic — she’s plenty good at getting herself fired up. No, the American setter was making sure blood kept flowing around her surgically repaired left knee, covered by an enormous black brace.

It has been 19 months since Poulter crumbled to the floor while playing in Italy, knowing instantly she was seriously hurt.

“I had never been in so much pain in my life,” she said.

Which is why her entire left leg still needs some extra TLC.

“This whole chain with the extent of the damage that was done in my knee, sometimes it gets a little tight, so I just hit it to get it loose,” she said.

It’s a little like the thoughtful care she received for months during her daunting comeback. At times, she would have six coaches working her out at once, something coach Karch Kiraly acknowledges with a…