U.S. women's volleyball sees a spike in its medal chances
OLYMPIC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Setter Lindsey Berg helps the Americans rally past Italy to reach the semifinals, in which they'll face nemesis Cuba.
BEIJING -- Trailing, 2-1, and looking toward the worst of all Olympic losses in the dreaded quarterfinals -- when a win means a possible medal and a loss secures fifth place -- the U.S. women's volleyball team dug down and then deeper in the wee hours Wednesday morning.
With the familiar "U-S-A, U-S-A" chant ringing in their ears, the Americans rallied behind the emotional lift and stabilizing presence provided by setter Lindsey Berg to defeat Italy, 20-25, 25-21, 19-25, 25-18, 15-6, to advance to the medal round against Cuba.
"Even though they crushed us in pool play, we're just going to keep fighting as a team," said Berg of the Americans' three-set loss to Cuba, their only setback here. "If we can just pass a little better, touch a few more balls and get in Cuba's head a little bit, they can break down like any team."
The Americans first will enjoy their quarterfinal victory, however, against an Italian team that won the 2007 World Cup title and had dropped only one set in its four victories in Beijing.
"I never imagined being here and playing the match we did," outside hitter Kim Willoughby said. "Everybody told us we would never beat them. It's a huge win for us."
The U.S. finished fifth at Athens in the 2004 Games and fourth in 2000 in Sydney, losing in the bronze-medal match. The U.S. has not won a medal since taking the silver in the '92 Games in Barcelona.
"I think we're doing a good job as it is," outside hitter Logan Tom said of the prospect of raising the U.S. program. "I'm very proud of us as a team whatever we do. Making the medal rounds is obviously an achievement for us, but I think our team has done a great job representing what America is all about."
The U.S. trailed, 17-8, in the third set before making a mini-run late in the set, closing the gap to 22-18 and 23-19. But the Americans made their biggest statement to start the fourth, taking an 8-0 lead and holding that advantage to regain momentum.
"[Berg] was amazing, she brought us back," outside hitter Tayyiba Haneef-Park said. "We had no fire at the end of the third set. She came in and changed the mind-set of the team."
The U.S. got off to a 9-3 lead in the fifth set and never looked back.
"I think we all just said, 'We still have some fight in us. Let's take this thing to a fifth set,' " said Tom, who led the team with 14 kills, three blocks and two aces.
"I feel bitter," Italy Coach Massimo Barbolina said. "It is an opportunity lost. The U.S. always plays at a high level, particularly when they are in difficulty."
The U.S. was in plenty of difficulty last time against Cuba
"Cuba is going to come out banging," Tom said. "I don't think we're intimidated. I think were used to it. We disappointed ourselves with the showing we gave the last time we played Cuba and I think we're ready to redeem ourselves."
