Olympic Volleyball 2012: Previewing and Predicting the Men's Quarterfinals

Now that the group stage is over, it is time for the remaining eight men's Olympic volleyball teams to step up their game if they want to secure a medal.

Team USA took home the gold in 2008, while Brazil secured the silver, and Russia the bronze. All three of those teams have advanced the quarters once again this year, and will look to match or surpass their performances from four years ago. 

But Argentina, Italy, Poland, Bulgaria, and Germany will also have their say before it is all said and done. Let's look at each of the four quarterfinal match-ups that will take place tomorrow, and who is favored to come out on top.

As some of you may know, the Olympic Volleyball group stage awards points not only based on whether you win or lose, but how many sets it took you to do so.

Coming into the tournament, Brazil was the number one ranked team in FIVB, although they finished second in Group B behind the United States with 11 points.

Brazil bested Tunisia and Russia 3-0, but then fell to the US, and went to five sets with Serbia, before sweeping Germany.

Brazil has looked vulnerable at times in this tournament, but there is no doubting their overall talent. 

Argentina, the eighth ranked team in the world picked up a solid nine points in Group A play which was good enough for third place.

After Argentina swept Australia to start the tournament, they lost 3-1 to Italy,  and were swept by Poland to put themselves in a tight spot. However, they responded with a huge 3-1 win over eventual group winner Bulgaria, and a sweep of Great Britain.

For this match-up, Brazil will lean on the experience they gained in 2008 to guide them through. Brazil's balanced scoring attack led by Murilo Endres, and Leandro Neves Vissotto should make them the favorites. 

If Argentina wants to score the upset, they will need huge contributions from Luciano de Cecco, one of the tournaments top setters, and their top scorer so far Facundo Conte.

Prediction: Brazil 3, Argentina 1

Despite only being ranked 5th in the world, Team USA had to be considered one of the favorites coming into this year's Olympic tournament, after taking home the gold in 2008.

So far, they have not disappointed winning Group B with 13 points and advancing to the quarterfinals.

Team USA, swept Serbia and Germany, and then bested top ranked Brazil 3-1, only to suffer a letdown and let Russia come from behind to defeat them 3-2. However, they picked themselves back up with a 3-0 win over Tunisia to close out the group stage.

Their opponent in this year's quarterfinals is a dangerous Italy team, who despite picking up just eight points in Group B, is still the sixth ranked team in the world.

Italy fell to Poland to open the games, but then bested Argentina 3-1, Great Britain 3-0, and Australia 3-2. They finished group stage play with a 3-0 loss to Bulgaria. 

For the Americans, they lead all teams in the tournament in both service and blocks average, which has helped them get to where they are. 

Clay Stanley is once again the unquestioned leader of this team, but Matthew Anderson has also shined in the games thus far.

For Italy, Michal Lasko is fifth in the tournament in scoring and he will need to do plenty of that if Italy is going to stop Team USA's momentum.

Expect Team USA to stay focused on the task at hand and put away a pesky Italian squad in four sets.

Prediction: USA 3, Italy 1

For Volleyball fans, this will be the match to look out for in the quarterfinals.

Second ranked Russia will take on third ranked Poland in what should be a tremendous match-up.

Poland scored just a 3-2 record in Group A but still managed to get second place. The Poles beat Italy 3-1, Argentina 3-0, and Great Britain 3-0. However, they lost to Bulgaria 3-1, and were upset by Australia 3-1 in their final match of the group stage.

Russia, in what amounted to be a group of death in Group B, with four of the world's top seven teams participating, managed to gain 11 points and secure third.

Russia swept the Germans, were swept in turn by Brazil, took out Tunisia and then scored a shocking comeback win over the USA 3-2 and followed that up with a sweep of Serbia.

Russia has now won six sets in a row and has to be playing with tremendous confidence going into this round. Maxim Mikhaylov has led the entire tournament in scoring with a phenomenal 93 points, while he is also the second ranked spiker in this years tournament. If Russia is going to medal, he will need to continue his dominant play up front.

Poland has a couple of great scorers of their own in Bartosz Kurek and Zbigniew Bartman. Poland is also the top ranked spiking team in the games with a 39.45 efficiency percentage and are tied with Team USA for tops in serving.

This one could truly go either way, but based on the strength of Mikhaylov, and the Russians confidence coming in, I see them squeaking it out in a tight fifth set.

Prediction: Russia 3, Poland 2 

While much of the attention may be focused on USA and Brazil, there is another team who looks like serious contenders for the gold this year, and that is Bulgaria.

Bulgaria sailed through Group A with 12 points, and despite only being ranked ninth in the FIVB rankings, they seem to be one of the most dangerous teams entering the quarterfinals.

Bulgaria swept Great Britain, Australia, and Italy while dropping only one set against group favorites Poland. Their only blemish is a 3-1 loss at the hand of Argentina.

They will face off against Germany, who survived a difficult Group B with five points, with the powerhouses USA, Brazil, and Russia in front of them.

Germany did not take a set from any of the groups top three teams, but wins over Serbia and Tunisia were enough to get them to the quarterfinals.

Now, they face off with a dominant Bulgarian squad who has balanced spiking, serving, and setting (all ranked in the top three in the tournament) masterfully thus far. 

For Germany, top scorer Gyorgy Grozer will lead the upset attempt, and Germany will hope their big blockers up front, who have scored them a 3.06 average in their opening four games, can stop the Bulgarian attack.

Don't expect Bulgaria to slow down in the quarters. A win here could set up an epic match-up with Brazil in the semifinals.

Prediction: Bulgaria 3, Germany 0