Brazil defeats U.S. to win gold

BEIJING – The last time U.S. women’s volleyball coach Jenny Lang Ping stood on the same medals podium as the United States, it was 1984 and she was celebrating the gold with her China teammates while the Americans were presented the silver.

On Saturday night, in her hometown of Beijing, the former Chinese star stood with her U.S. team on the second step.

They took solace with another silver after a 15-25, 25-18, 13-25, 21-25 loss to Brazil at Capital Gymnasium, the first Olympic medal for the U.S. since the ‘92 team won bronze.

This was the fourth straight time for the U.S. that the Olympics concluded with a match against Brazil, all defeats, with the Brazilians denying the Americans a shot at the bronze in Athens in ‘04.

This time around, top-seeded Brazil had not dropped a set in seven matches coming into the gold-medal match. The Brazilians went 22 straight sets before the fourth-seeded Americans took the second set Saturday, 25-18.

Brazil controlled the third set but still there was hope as the U.S. had a 6-1 record with three of its victories coming in five sets after trailing 2-1.

The fourth set was the tightest, with neither team enjoying more than a two-point lead through 18-16, U.S. The teams were tied at 18, 19, 20, 21. But two big blocks by Brazil’s Fabiana de Oliveira after it was tied at 20 gave Brazil the edge they needed as they pulled out the decisive set, 25-21.