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Thursday, September 28, 2000
Nyet loss SYDNEY, Australia -- The Russian Federation women's volleyball team had more size, more power, more experience than its U.S. counterpart. And it showed -- late in the fifth game.
for U.S.
Women's volleyball team
On TV
falls in five against Russia;
Norway stuns U.S.
women in soccerStar-Bulletin news services
The U.S., physically overmatched, battled to take its Olympic semifinal with Russia the distance before falling 25-15, 23-25, 25-15, 26-28, 15-8 today at the Sydney Entertainment Center.
That the team will still play for a medal, facing Brazil for the bronze, is no small accomplishment. Neither was going five games with Russia (7-0), a pre-tournament favorite along with Cuba, the team it will meet for the gold.
But, in the immediate aftermath, it was the loss, more than the accomplishments, that was on the minds of the Americans.
"We definitely had the momentum," said Logan Tom, who helped the U.S. rally from deficits of 15-9 and 21-16 in the fourth game. "And we had it until we got stuck in one rotation, and gave up about five points. And that killed it.
"... They had a huge block up against Dani and Tara" -- Danielle Scott and Tara Cross-Battle, the team's two Olympic veterans -- "and we just couldn't get out of it."
That happened in the fifth game, which had been tied at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 before the U.S. took its last lead, 7-6, on a kill by Tom. But when she missed serve, tying the game at seven, the Russians then went on their run to go up 12-7.
"We needed to get out of the two rotations that were bad for us, and we just couldn't," said U.S. coach Mick Haley. "But give credit to the Russians. They got good swings and put up a big block."
The Russian attack and block were, or at least should have been, intimidating, given that eight Russian players -- including five of six starters -- were taller than any player on the U.S. roster.
But the U.S. found ways to cope, at least at times, varying its attack with off-speed and cross-court hitting. But when any element of its game slipped, the Russians took advantage.
Now, the U.S. challenge is to adjust to playing for a bronze -- against a Brazilian team that beat the U.S. in four games in pool play -- not the gold it had hoped for.
"Our goal was to win a medal, and when we won the quarterfinal, our goal was to win the gold medal," said Cross-Battle. "We're disappointed, but we can still win a bronze, and we're going to do everything we can to do that."
"Whatever happens, we've done what we set out to do in this quadrennial," said Haley, who has helped the U.S. program rebound from a seventh-place finish at the Atlanta Games. "We've got three players under 22 and a number of other players under 26 ... This program is in a position where it should be able to play for gold in the future."
When to watch
Today
NBC (KHNL Channel 13/Cable 8)
4 p.m.-9 p.m.
Equestrian, track & field, rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming, women's diving.9:35 p.m.-11:05 p.m.
Men's basketball (U.S. vs. Russia).CNBC (OC16/Dig.116/AC43)
2 p.m.-6 p.m.
Boxing, tennis, freestyle wrestling.MSNBC (OC40/Dig.107/AC12)
9 p.m.-4 a.m. (repeat of 7 a.m.-2 p.m. broadcast)
Women's volleyball (U.S. vs. Russia), men's basketball, women's soccer (U.S. vs. Norway).
Competing later today, HST: Hawaii's Olympians
Kathy Colin, kayak: Women's K-1 and K-2 500-meter semifinals.
Sean Kern, water polo: Men's quarterfinals, U.S. vs. Russia.
John Myrdal, sailing, Laser.
Peter Newton, kayak: Men's K-2 500-meter semifinals.
Sydney 2000 Olympics