U.S. volleyball coach returns to lead team

BEIJING (Reuters) - The coach for the United States men's volleyball squad, Hugh McCutcheon, returned to the team on Saturday, less than a week after his father-in-law was murdered in Beijing by a man who later committed suicide.

Barbara Bachman, McCutcheon's mother-in-law, who is still recovering from wounds suffered in the attack that killed her husband, has also left the Chinese capital by air ambulance and returned to the United States, the U.S. Olympic Committee said in a statement.

"We are also extremely appreciative of the support we have received from people here in Beijing, the United States, New Zealand, and around the world," said McCutcheon, in the statement.

McCutcheon's wife and her two sisters have also returned to the United States.

The U.S. team, ranked third in the world, had been coached by an assistant while McCutcheon dealt with the family tragedy.

(Editing by Alex Richardson)