Brazil beat U.S. for women's volleyball gold
BEIJING (Reuters) - Brazil captured the Olympic gold medal in women's volleyball by beating the United States 3-1 in the final.
The Brazilians went on a point-scoring rampage in the middle of the first set racking up 10 points while conceding only one to win it 25-15. The Americans grabbed an early lead in the second, however, and held on to win 25-18 and even the match.
In the third set, Brazil's tough defense limited the United States ability to score and a series of American errors, including three service faults, gave Brazil the set 25-13.
Kimberly Glass, who had trouble serving all night, pounded a serve long at 21-21 to give Brazil the lead, and the South Americans won the next three points to close it out 25-21.
China, who won gold in Athens, took the bronze and ended a streak of four Olympic medals for once-dominant Cuba.
The gold medal match was Brazil's maiden appearance in an Olympic final and the United States' first since 1984 when it took silver in Los Angeles at the hands of a Chinese team that included America's current coach, Jenny Lang Ping.
(Additional reporting by Paul Majendie, Editing by Miles Evans)
