Women's Volleyball: Brazil Tops U.S. (Updated)
Brazil, which has never won a gold medal in women's volleyball despite the country's passion for the sport, beat the United States in the gold medal match tonight, a 25-15, 18-25, 25-13, 25-21 decision that finished with a flurry.
The U.S., which also had never won gold in women's volleyball, forged the last of 13 ties in the final game at 21-21. But the Brazilians ran off the final four points, and began a delirious celebration.
The U.S. team, which matched its best finish of silver in 1984, consoled each other briefly, but exchanged smiles and hugs. Logan Tom, the team's best player, sent the final ball long.
The U.S. men face Brazil for gold on Sunday.
Highlights from the AP Report:
"We all would love the gold," U.S. player Lindsey Berg said. "Who doesn't want a gold medal? But we're all happy with what we got."
Brazil finished the Olympic tournament without a loss, while China beat Cuba 3-1 earlier in the day for the women's bronze medal.
The Olympics started on a tragic note for the U.S. team when the father of former U.S. player Elisabeth "Wiz" Bachman McCutcheon was fatally stabbed Aug. 9 at a popular Beijing tourist site by a man who then committed suicide. Her mother was seriously injured in the attack.
Todd Bachman was also the father-in-law of U.S. men's volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon, whose team will also face Brazil Sunday for the gold medal. ...
"We have nothing to be disappointed for," Tom said. "You see tears; they're tears of happiness, though. We came a long way this tournament."
The United States went 4-1 in pool play, then defeated second-ranked Italy in the quarterfinals before a stunning three-set upset of former powerhouse Cuba to advance to the final.
The United States has never won a gold medal. It won the silver medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Games and a bronze in 1992.
The last time the U.S. men's and women's teams each advanced to the Olympic final was 1984.
By
Barry Svrluga
|
August 23, 2008; 11:35 AM ET
| Category:
Volleyball
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Posted by: Paulo | August 23, 2008 10:40 AM
o Ouro é Nooooooooooooooso!!!
Posted by: Cris | August 23, 2008 10:54 AM
nós os brasileiros somos os reis do voleyball. (we Brazilians are the kings of voleyball.)
Posted by: Marco | August 23, 2008 10:54 AM
Brasil the king of volleyball!!!
Valeu meninas!!
Vocês valem ouro!!
Posted by: Guilherme Augusto(Dumal) | August 23, 2008 10:57 AM
Valeu meninas!!!
Parabéns!!
Brasil the best volleyball!!
Posted by: Fernanda Caldas Brasco-HSR/POA/RS-BR | August 23, 2008 11:01 AM
Brasssssiiiiillll
Hoje à noite tem mais.
Posted by: Isabella | August 23, 2008 11:01 AM
We'll be back. Congratulations US for your effort and your silver.
Posted by: vball boy | August 23, 2008 11:13 AM
The americans played very well and almost beated the our girls. But Logan Tom could not do it all alone...
Brasil é ouro, uhu!
Posted by: brazilian | August 23, 2008 11:20 AM
A prata VALORIZA BASTANTE O NOSSO OURO NO voleyball
Posted by: Rubinho | August 23, 2008 11:25 AM
Congratulations USA, Silver Medal. But, BRAZIL IS GOLD!!!
Ronaldo, from Natal/RN/Brasil.
Posted by: Ronaldo Dantas | August 23, 2008 11:38 AM
valeu meninas de ouro vcs são d ++++....
our volleyball is.....G O L D...
our girls are ..... G O L D
e que venha mais um gold hj com os meninos
Posted by: Edynara | August 23, 2008 12:21 PM
I love this result --- Go Brazil !!!!!
Posted by: Gary | August 23, 2008 12:33 PM
I LOVE ALL THE GIRL
Posted by: jack | August 23, 2008 1:15 PM
Todos gostam de ver a derrota dos soberbos.
Um pouco de humildade nunca é demais.
Posted by: Antonino T.Silva | August 23, 2008 1:15 PM
Why doesn't somebody tell Kaka this is what patriotism is all about.
Posted by: Jeff Taylor | August 23, 2008 1:47 PM
Dunga,
E assim que ganha ouro, seu metido.
Posted by: Biff Henderson | August 23, 2008 1:59 PM
brasileiro sucios
Posted by: Willis | August 23, 2008 2:21 PM
Brazil: It is really sad to see you happy in voleyball while you have been humilliated in Soccer...
Posted by: Bruno | August 23, 2008 3:00 PM
Brazil women are so good at volleyball! Maybe someday they will be good at soccer too. Just kidding. Great sports, good competition, excellent Olymics for both teams. Congratulations Brazil!
Posted by: Elliott | August 23, 2008 3:39 PM
Os Reis do Volleyball??? Acho que nao!!! Os Americanos ganharem no volleyball da areia homens e mulheres e vao ganhar dos homens no domingo. Meu qando brasilieros ganham uma coisa vsc acham que sao os melhores ede tudo. As americanas de futebol ganharem e o esporte que vcs falam que sao os melhores futebol dos homens vcs nem chegou perto. Vcs tem 14 medalias e 3 ouros. Tem muito trabalha pra ser o melhor
Posted by: DarrenNichols | August 23, 2008 3:52 PM
hey darren, dont worry about the over reaction thats how people celebrate when they are not used too. VAMOS RESPEITAR OS CARAS bando de provinciano idiota.
Posted by: ado | August 23, 2008 4:08 PM
pra ganhar mais ouro na proxima e so preparo mental, os brasileiros tem tudo pra duplicar o numero de medalhas de ouro...parece qua quando chega a hora "H" eles recuam.....
ACREDITAR MAIS.....SONHAR MAIS....E NAO DESISTIR..........
Posted by: tania engelman | August 23, 2008 8:56 PM
Parabéns, Brasil.
Posted by: Bwana | August 23, 2008 11:18 PM
Congrats, USA. It was really good... since the grand prix, the american team got better. Logan Tom was great. As a brazilian, I must acknowledge that the match wasn't easy at all. The best match player was Sheilla undoubtedly and it was a GREAT result for Marianne Steinbrecher and José Roberto Guimarães who had been criticized since 2004 after that game against Russia. Danielle Scoot is so nice. She didn't play everythin' she could in the final, but I still like her... she played in the team I root for [Osasco] and, without her, USA wouldn't be in the final match...
but Brazil is the team that deserves the gold medal... since the beginning of the olympic games, I see a team without fear and decided to do everything that was decided previously.
but congrats, USA [really] the game was tough and the american team was playing good so that it was very hard to beat it!
Sheilla Castro, Marianne Steinbrecher, Paula Pequeno [MVP], Fofão [WHAT A GREAT SETTER], Walewska Oliveria, Fabiana Claudino, Fabiana Alvim, Valesquinha, Jaqueline Carvalho, Sassá, Carol Albuquerque, Taísa Daher...
ENJOY THE GOLD, 'CAUSE U'R THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD!
Posted by: Gustav | August 24, 2008 12:29 AM
"and the american team was playing WELL* so that it was very hard to beat it!"
Posted by: Gustav | August 24, 2008 12:52 AM
Sejamos inteligentes!
Os verdadeiros reis do voleibol são os americanos que foram para simplesmente todas as finais do voleibol e tiveram aproveitamento de 75 %, levando 3 ouros em quatro finais!
Agora, apesar do ouro, infelizmente para Berg, Haneff, Ball, Stanley, Priddy, o voleibol nunca terá popularidade em terras norte-americanas...
Ai é nós brasileiros temos vantagem, o voleibol no nosso país é o segundo esporte é um muitíssimo popular...
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BRAZIL CARAAALHO!!