U.S. women's volleyball squad beaten by Cuba

BEIJING -- The U.S. women's volleyball team, playing in their second match of an emotionally draining Olympics, lost to Cuba in three sets Monday.

Cuba, ranked third in the world, overpowered the U.S. women 25-15, 26-24, 25-17 and are up 2-0 in preliminary round play. The U.S. women are even at even at 1-1.

USA Volleyball has been reeling from the stabbing death of Todd Bachman, father of former Olympian Elisabeth Bachman McCutcheon. He was attacked by a knife-wielding man at a popular tourist site in Beijing on Saturday.

Her mother, Barbara Bachman, was seriously injured by the attacker, who jumped to his death from a balcony of the Drum Tower, an ancient landmark the Americans were visiting.

Many of the women on the team played with Bachman McCutcheon in the 2004 Athens Olympics. The Bachmans frequently accompanied USA Volleyball to tournaments and were especially close to the women's team.

U.S. setter Lindsey Berg said she wasn't sure if the tragedy played into Monday's loss, but said "it has been an emotionally draining 48 hours."

"We're still trying to stay strong for Wiz and the entire family, and for USA Volleyball," she said.

In an open letter released Monday by the U.S. Olympic Committee, the McCutcheons thanked friends, family, U.S., Chinese and Olympic officials for their help during a "tremendously difficult time."

"We are extremely grateful for the outpouring of assistance and generosity that we have received and hope to convey our appreciation to everyone who has supported us and kept us in their thoughts and prayers," the letter said.

The U.S. women defeated Japan in their opening game on Saturday, while Cuba also won its first match against Poland.

Against Cuba, the United States struggled.

The U.S. women were up 5-1 in the first set before Cuba called a timeout to regroup -- and came back to surge ahead 8-5. Cuba went on to claim the set 25-15.

The United States kept it closer in the second, but Yumilka Ruiz's crosscourt spike for match point gave the set to Cuba. The U.S. was similarly overpowered in the third.

Ruiz led Cuba with 13 points. Tayyiba Haneef-Park had 13 for the United States.

The Chinese fans at Capital Indoor Stadium cheered loudly for U.S. coach Jenny Lang Ping, who is considered a sports icon in China. Many stayed to applaud and take a picture as she left the court after the match.

Lang was known as the "Iron Hammer" during her playing days with the Chinese national team because of her powerful spikes. She led her team to an Olympic gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

In other early matches Monday, Serbia beat Algeria 3-0 and Italy downed Kazakhstan by the same score.

Ivana Djerisilo had 13 points to lead Serbia to a 25-14, 25-13, 25-13 win and Francesca Piccininni had 12 points as Italy won 25-19, 25-15, 25-21.

Three more matches were scheduled for later Monday.