U.S. men to battle Brazil in final
BEIJING (Reuters) - The U.S. men's volleyball team squandered an early lead but recovered in a tense tie-breaker to defeat Russia on Friday and reach the Olympic final, leaving the door open for a possible U.S. gold medal sweep in volleyball.
To grab America's first men's gold since 1988 though, they will have to beat Brazil who trounced Italy 3-1 in Friday's other semi-final.
The Americans may be encouraged that the only team in Beijing to beat Brazil, the Athens Games champions four years ago, has been Russia.
"I really don't care who we play. It's about us," said U.S. player Lloy Ball after the five-set triumph over Russia. "We're going to have to play real well to win."
U.S. men's beach volleyball duo Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser beat a Brazilian pair to win the gold earlier on Friday, and the day before Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh won their second straight women's crown on the sand.
The American indoor women's team faces Brazil in the final on Saturday.
The United States snatched the first two sets 25-22 25-21 as Russian fans jeered at a tiny contingent chanting "U-S-A!
U-S-A!"
Russia clawed back to win a tight third set 27-25, and then grabbed the fourth 25-22.
With the match tied in the final frame middle blocker David Lee scored the final two points to secure the Americans' 15-13 victory and book a spot in Sunday's championship match.
"I came alive. All match long I don't think I played my best volleyball but at the end I got it done," said Lee, who scored the U.S.'s final four points overall.
"We kind of weathered the storm. They served really well, we passed great, and at the end we made a few big points -- a few kills, a few stuffs -- and that was it. Game over."
Athens silver medalists Italy got off to a roaring start on Friday, taking the first set. Brazil, however, turned the tables and won the next three sets.
"After the first set, Brazil started to play like Brazil usually plays," Italian setter Valerio Vermiglio said after the 19-25 25-18 25-21 25-22 setback. "We had bad luck in the Olympic games this year."
(Editing by Steve Ginsburg)
