BARCELONA ’92 OLYMPICS : DAILY REPORT : VOLLEYBALL : Protest Rejected, but U.S. Men Rout France, 15-5, 15-12, 15-8

The United States men’s team hopes the worst is over.

Finally playing like medal contenders, the Americans clinched a place in the quarterfinals with a 15-5, 15-12, 15-8 victory over France on Saturday, posting their first consecutive-game victory and improving to 3-1.

It came on the day when the International Volleyball Federation turned down a request by the U.S. Olympic Committee to reconsider a decision that stripped the Americans of their opening-game victory over Japan.

“I think we’ve put it behind, except for one reminder,” three-time Olympian Steve Timmons said. “That reminder is there for the world to see.”

That reminder comes from the shorn heads of the Americans. They shaved their heads to protest the decision and to support teammate Bob Samuelson. Samuelson, who is bald because of a skin disease, was at the center of the first-match controversy when he received two yellow cards for arguing with officials.

Samuelson, who has taken over the middle blocker role from injured Bryan Ivie, led the team against France, getting 16 kills and three blocks, but still is considered to be the bad guy by the crowds in Barcelona.

He thrives on it.

“I hate Bill Laimbeer,” he said of the garrulous Detroit Piston. “I like to think of myself as a (Charles) Barkley. I like to bang and play physical. . . . When Fred (Strum, the U.S. volleyball coach) puts me in the game, he wants me to be fiery. He wants me to talk and yell at my teammates and get them going.

“It was good to win in three. The key is on our side of the net, and we finally did what we wanted to do--take a team away.”

The Americans were extended for five games in all previous matches and were concerned about the mental and physical toll if it happened again.

“It sure is great to win in three,” said Timmons, who had 14 kills and six blocks. “We said before the match, ‘Let’s get it done in three, we need some rest.’ ”

The Americans struggled only in the second game, falling behind, 12-7. But the United States rallied to win the next eight points.

The Americans, champions in 1984 and 1988, are seeking to become the first team to win three consecutive Olympic volleyball gold medals.

Their last preliminary group rival is world champion Italy, which beat Canada, 15-11, 8-15, 15-12, 15-7, and improved to 4-0.

In a Pool B upset, Brazil beat Cuba, 15-6, 15-8, 12-15, 15-6. Brazil (4-0) and Cuba (3-1) also qualified for the quarterfinals.

SOCCER

Spain Eliminates Italy, 1-0; Poland Also Makes Semifinals

Spain defeated pre-tournament favorite Italy, 1-0, in the quarterfinals and moved into Wednesday’s semifinals.

Poland, which seemingly took over the favorite’s role with a 3-0 victory over Italy during pool play, reached the semifinals with a 2-0 victory over Qatar.

In quarterfinal matches today, Ghana will play Paraguay and Sweden will face Australia. Spain will play the Ghana-Paraguay winner and Poland will meet the Sweden-Australia winner in the semifinals.

WEIGHTLIFTING

Another Former Soviet Wins

Georgia became the latest republic of the Commonwealth of Independent States to win a gold medal when Kakhi Kakhiachvili tied world and Olympic records on the final lift of the competition.

Kakhiachvili won the gold medal at 198 pounds from teammate Sergei Syrtsov of Uzbekistan.

Syrtsov broke the Olympic snatch record and also tied the Olympic record.

But Kakhiachvili had the final say.

His last clean and jerk of 518 pounds tied the world record set by Anatoli Khrapaty of the Soviet Union four years ago in Cardiff, Wales.

That gave him a total of 909 1/4 pounds, tying Syrtsov’s score and the Olympic record Khrapaty set in Seoul four years ago.

Because Kakhiachvili is a half-pound lighter than Syrtsov, he won the gold. Sergiusz Wolczaniecki of Poland gained the bronze with a total of 865 1/4 pounds.

FENCING

French Win Gold and Bronze

Eric Srecki of France won the gold medal and teammate Jean-Michel Henri took the bronze in the individual epee.

Pavel Koblokov of the CIS, 1991 world Student Games champion, won the silver.

Srecki’s teammates, beaten by Koblokov and the former Soviet team at last year’s world championships, invaded the piste and threw Srecki into the air repeatedly.

Srecki, a 28-year-old bank employee from northern France, got off to a shaky start in the final, trailing Koblokov, 3-1, in the first set.

But he rallied to win the set, 6-5. He scored a 5-2 victory in the second set.

Henri, beaten by Koblokov in a three-set semifinal, rallied to defeat Kaido Kaaberma of Estonia in the third-place playoff, 2-5, 5-2, 5-3.

“I was one touch away from the final,” Henri said. “The regret is greater than the pleasure.”

MEDALISTS

* FENCING

(Individual Epee)

GOLD: Eric Srecki (France)

SILVER: Pavel Koblokov (CIS)

BRONZE: Jean-Michel Henri (France)

* WEIGHTLIFTING

(90 Kg, 198 pounds)

GOLD: Kakhi Kakhiachvili (CIS)

SILVER: Sergei Syrtsov (CIS)

BRONZE: Sergiusz Wolczaniecki (Poland)