Brazil beats USA for women's volleyball gold

Brazil pulled away from a close set in the fourth quarter to capture the gold medal in women's indoor volleyball, winning 25-15, 18-25, 25-13, 25-21. The USA women collect silver.

The U.S. women’s indoor volleyball team has its sights set on making history in today’s Olympic final.

The fourth-ranked Americans dispatched No. 2 Italy in the quarterfinals and No. 3 Cuba in the semifinals, leaving one more challenge — No. 1 Brazil. Action is set to begin at 7 a.m. CDT.

They jumped, they smashed and they won. Unstoppable Brazil won their first ever Olympic gold medal in women's volleyball after beating the United States 3-1 on Saturday.

    The Americans took home the second silver after the one from the Los Angeles Games in 1984.

    Brazil, playing ballet-like delicate passing and samba-like quick smashing, turned the first clash between the two teams at Beijing Games into an artistic 25-15, 18-25, 25-13 and 25-21 victory.

    The two sides fought closely at the opener before 10-all, when Brazil, led by ace spikers Sheilla Castro and Fabiana Claudino, launched a stunning 10-1 run to establish a solid foundation for victory 20-11.

    American wing spiker Logan Tom scored three points in row and Heather Bown added one more to pull back 15-23, but Paula Pequeno immediately responded with a kill spike and an ace serve to clinch the set for Brazil 25-15.

    The U.S. found their rhythm after veteran setter Lindsey Berg was sent to the court and their stormy serves destroyed the Brazilian reception.

    Starting within 8-3, the Americans maintained winning momentum and enlarged the gap to 22-16. Danielle Scott-Arruda helped the U.S. take the match point 24-18 with a kill block and a quick middle court spike, but it was Tom who sealed the victory 25-18 with an unanswered spike.

    The world's No. 1 Brazil, who sailed into the final without losing a single set, showed their true colors at the third set by strengthening blocking and serving. A decisive Brazil took the effortless set 25-13.

    The fourth set had been a tit-for-tat battle before a 21-21 draw, when Kim Glass gave the advantage to Brazil with a serve error. Claudino and Castro helped the Brazil take the match points 24-21 with kill blocks, but it was American Tom who blew the ball out, as well as their chance to go further. Brazil won the match 25-21.

    Earlier in the bronze medal match, China upset Cuba 3-1.

    The defending champion, shrugging off the humiliating straight-set loss to Brazil in the semifinals, won the morale-boosting match, 25-16, 21-25, 25-13 and 25-20.

    Although the host easily won the first set, Cuba, three-time champion in 1992, 1996 and 2000 fought back to win the second set. But China's powerful serving and solid blocking overpowered the Cubans who failed to win another set.