Volleyball: U.S. Men Topple Brazil, Win Gold (Updated)

From the Associated Press:

The U.S. men's volleyball team won the Olympic gold medal to complete a perfect run in the tournament by beating defending champion Brazil.

The Americans captured their third gold medal in the sport with the 20-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-23 final victory.

Brazil, the top-ranked team and two-time gold medalists, settled for the silver.

The U.S. run came after coach Hugh McCutcheon's father-in-law was fatally stabbed in Beijing the day before competition started. McCutcheon missed the team's first three games to be with his family.

After the United States clinched the final point, McCutcheon briefly hugged his teammates. Then he buried his head into his hands and quietly walked off the court. He did not return for a long while, and when he did, he embraced veteran Lloy Ball.

Russia won the bronze medal earlier in the day with a three-set victory over Italy.

The U.S. women's volleyball team also came away with a silver medal after losing 3-1 to top-ranked Brazil on Saturday.

The United States won golds in 1984 and 1988 before winning the bronze in Barcelona. They finished fourth in Athens in 2004.

The United States won in Beijing when Clayton Stanley's spike sailed toward Brazilian star Giba, who popped the ball out of bounds.

As Giba stayed crouched on the floor in disbelief, the U.S. team rushed onto the court in a group embrace. Ball, a four-time Olympian, then jumped the barrier to the seats, where he hugged his 7-year-old son and his wife.

The Brazilians defeated Italy 3-1 in the semifinals to set up the final match in Beijing. The United States defeated Russia in five sets.

The Brazilian men, who won the gold medal in the 2004 Athens games, dominated international play for most of this decade and were the favorites to win the gold going into the games.

After winning all five matches in the preliminary round, the U.S. men beat Serbia in the quarterfinals 3-2 before the victory over Russia.

It was the first time since the 1984 Los Angeles Games that both the American men and women advanced to the Olympic finals.

But the incredible run opened on a tragic note.

McCutcheon's father in law, Todd Bachman, was killed the day after opening ceremonies by a knife wielding assailant at the 13th-century Drum Tower. Bachman's wife, Barbara, was badly wounded in the attack. The assailant jumped to his death from the tower.

McCutcheon is married to the Bachman's daughter, former Olympian Elisabeth "Wiz" Bachman McCutcheon, who played for the U.S. women in Athens.

The coach left the team to be with his family and missed three matches before his mother-in-law improved and was returned to the United States by air ambulance. Assistant Ron Larsen was interim head coach.

The U.S. men marked their shoes with the initials of Todd and Barbara Bachman during the games. McCutcheon planned to return to the United States immediately following the final match.

Brazil emerged 4-1 from preliminary pool play in Beijing, with a lone loss coming to Russia. They defeated China in the quarterfinals before Italy in the semis.

By washingtonpost.com Sports Editor  |  August 24, 2008; 2:39 AM ET  | Category:  Volleyball
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