U.S. men's volleyball hangs tough for win against Serbia
OLYMPIC VOLLEYBALL
Team USA was trailing in the third set when coach Hugh McCutcheon called a timeout and gave a pointed pep talk.
BEIJING -- Playing in a raucous Capital Gymnasium where the Serbian fans booed the U.S. men's volleyball team early and often, the Americans hung tough Wednesday night and won in five sets, 20-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-18, 15-12, over Serbia to advance to the Olympic semifinals, where they will play Russia.
Riley Salmon hit the winning fifth-set spike for the U.S., which is looking for its first medal since winning a bronze in 1992.
With the match tied at a set each, the U.S. had lost a four-point, third-set lead and trailed 16-15 in the third when a timeout was called.
Coach Hugh McCutcheon's pep talk was calm but pointed.
"We want effort," he said. "We're right where want to be. We're here."
The U.S. had started off slowly in the first set, getting behind right off the bat and never catching up.
The second set was always close, but with the score 24-23, in favor of the U.S., 36-year-old Lloy Ball served, William Priddy spiked and the U.S. had tied to match at one set each with a 25-23 win. The third set started in favor of the Americans, who took a quick 4-0 lead, but the lead was gone for good when McCutcheon had his timeout talk, and the U.S. fell behind two sets to one after a 25-21 loss.
After one lost point Priddy kicked the ball into the rafters, causing more boos to follow.
Ball gave the next pep talk. "Don't think too far ahead," he said. "Just think point by point." That worked in the fourth set when Clay Stanley served a winner to give the U.S. a 25-18 win and tie the match at two sets each.
diane.pucin@latimes.com
