BEIJING: The United States booked a place in the Olympic men’s volleyball final for the first time in 20 years yesterday with a nail-biting five-set semifinal win over Russia.
In a match that evolved into a battle between Russians Alexander Korasev and Maxim Mikhaylov and Americans William Priddy and Clayton Stanley, the United States emerged with a 25-22, 25-21, 25-27, 22-25, 15-13 triumph.
Stanley blasted serves of up to 118kmph, while Russia struggled to set up their quick offense in the opening set, and Priddy’s left side spikes got the Americans off to a good start.
Leading the American offense, Priddy and Stanley controlled the flow of the game. Russia adjusted their blocking to good effect in the third set, when Sergey Tetyukhim’s quick middle attack sparked a Russian rally and Mikhaylov attacked from all corners. In the fourth set Russia took advantage of four service errors by the Americans to force the fifth set. The last set yielded an exchange of strong spikes from each side before David Lee gave America a set point. A double-block from Lee and Riley Salmon secured the match after two hours and 17 minutes.
In tomorrow’s final, the United States will face world No. 1 Brazil who defeated Italy 19-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-22 to follow their win over the Europeans in the gold medal match in Athens four years ago.
“It’a been a long journey for me and a lot of the guys who’ve put in a decade of work to get to get to this point,” said Lloy Ball. “I’ve been dreaming about this since I was four.” The United States booked their first final since the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and their run to the gold medal match comes after the team was rocked early in the Games by the stabbing death of the father-in-law of coach Hugh McCutcheon.
Todd Bachman was stabbed by a Chinese assailant while visiting a cultural site in Beijing. His wife, Barbara was seriously injured in the attack by a lone assailant, which appeared to have no connection to the Olympics.
Today, Brazil will be out to avenge their loss to the United States in the World League which took place on home soil on the eve of the Games.
“That loss always comes into our minds,” said Gustavo Endres. “But the whole team has bonded very well.”
