U.S. to Play Soviet Union in World Volleyball Final

The United States men’s volleyball team, which won the 1984 Olympic gold medal, will meet the Soviet Union, the defending champion, in the title match of the World Men’s Volleyball Championship today. Both team advanced with straight-set victories Saturday.

The United States beat Brazil, 15-5, 15-9, 15-3, after the Soviet Union defeated Bulgaria, 15-8, 15-2, 15-13, before a capacity crowd of 16,000 at the Palais Omnisports Bercy.

It will be the second time in five days that the Soviet Union and the U.S. teams have met. Wednesday, the Soviet Union downed the United States in a semifinal-round match after both had qualified for the final round.

The United States beat Brazil in the gold medal game of the 1984 Olympics and had no trouble winning again Saturday night.

The first set took 20 minutes. Tied, 3-3, the United States reeled off six straight points before Brazil could score again. After that, the U.S. team ran the score to 13-4 and took the game easily behind the blocks of Craig Buck and Steve Timmons.

U.S. captain Karch Kiraly, who did not play in Wednesday’s match while resting a sore calf, was back in the lineup. His defense and reception of serve helped the United States win the second set. After a 5-5 tie, the Americans took the set, 15-9.

The third set was even easier than the first two. The American outside hitters, Pat Powers and Bob Ctvrtlik, set up by Dusty Dvorak, found the holes in the Brazilian defense. The Americans took a 13-1 lead before Brazil could put up two more points. Then the Americans closed out the set and the match.

Since the 1984 Olympics, the U.S.-Soviet series stands at 12-6 in favor of the United States, although the Soviet Union has a 4-3 edge in tournaments won.