Russia ends US streak in men's volleyball
LONDON — Maxim Mikhaylov scored 27 points and Russia snapped an 11-match winning streak for the U.S. men's volleyball team in Olympic play with a 3-2 preliminary round victory Saturday.
A win would have clinched the U.S. men the top seed in their pool. They have another chance Monday against winless Tunisia.
Sergey Tetyukhin added 21 points for No. 2 Russia in the 29-27, 19-25, 26-24, 25-16, 15-8 victory. He spiked for match point.
Matt Anderson scored 18 points for the fifth-ranked U.S. men, who had won three straight matches at the London Games after going undefeated in Beijing en route to the gold medal.
The U.S. team was coming off a four-set victory over top-ranked Brazil, a preliminary round rematch of the Beijing final. But they couldn't counter Russia's powerful serves and blocks.
The U.S. men weren't considered among the favorites to medal in London but claimed the silver in the World League tournament before opening the Olympics with dominant straight-set victories over Serbia and Germany. Then came the upset over Brazil.
The U.S. landed in a difficult pool in London with Brazil, Russia, Serbia, Germany and Tunisia. The other six-team pool includes Italy, Poland, Argentina, Bulgaria, Australia and host Britain.
Teams are awarded points for each set won. The top four teams from each group in the preliminary round advance to the quarterfinals.
Russia lost in straight sets to Brazil earlier in the round but beat Germany and Tunisia. They'll finish the preliminary round with a match against Serbia.
Russia found success on the block to go up 15-11 in the first set. Mikhaylov's spike made it 16-11, but the United States rallied to go ahead 21-20 on David Lee's monster kill before Matt Anderson's ace won it.
The United States took an 8-5 lead in the next set, and setter Donald Suxho pumped his fist several times. Alexander Volkov's block made it 12-all, but Russia couldn't pull ahead, and Reid Priddy's block sealed the set.
Sergey Grankin's block gave Russia a 16-15 advantage in the third set. The United States took back the lead until Mikhaylov's spike put the Russians in front 25-24. Tetyukhin's ace won it.
Mikhaylov hit two straight aces to put Russia ahead 12-4 in the fourth set. Sean Rooney sparked a U.S. rally with three straight kills, and the team pulled within 13-11, but Russia pulled away to force the deciding set.
Russia and the United States each have three gold medals in volleyball, which became an Olympic sport in 1964.
The Russians, who won the bronze medal in Beijing, have not won a gold since 1980.
The Americans return six players from the emotional gold medal run in Beijing. Coach Hugh McCutcheon's father was stabbed to death at a popular Chinese tourist site a day before opening ceremony and missed the team's first three matches before leading them to the title.
McCutcheon has since gone over to the U.S. women's team, and the men are led by Alan Knipe.
Earlier in the day, Poland swept Great Britain to improve to 3-1 in Pool A and secure a spot in the quarterfinals. Zbigniew Bartman scored 20 points in the 25-16, 25-19, 25-18 victory.
Britain, which earned a place in the 12-team field as the host nation, is winless in the competition and was eliminated from the quarterfinal round.
Germany stayed alive in Pool B with a three-set win over Tunisia (25-15, 25-16, 26-16) to pull even at 2-2.
Former cricketeer Steve Waugh was at Earls Court to cheer for Australia, which went up two sets on Italy before falling 3-2 (21-25, 18-25, 25-21, 25-14, 15-13).
The No. 22 Volleyroos had enthusiastic support from the fans as the underdogs against Italy. The Australians hugged after the match, and when they turned to acknowledge the crowd, they were rewarded with a standing ovation.