Volleyball

As the No. 1 women’s team in the FIVB rankings, Team USA was expected to reach the gold medal match of the 2012 Olympics tournament in London. Now, only the gold medal match awaits, and Team USA has dominated its competition in getting there.

It seems as if every time Team USA draws up a play, the opposition gets the ball stuffed right back in its face. In fact, even the opposition’s set plays are getting redirected back to their side of the net.

Team USA has done it with a relentless attack. The Americans have a tournament-best 34.72 percent spike efficiency rating, meaning they are scoring on just over one-third of their spikes.

This is nearly 10 percent better than the tournament average of 25.85 percent.

Individually, Destinee Hooker’s 38.91 spike efficiency rating ranks No. 1 amongst stat qualifiers. Jordan Larson’s 31.65 rating is sixth-best.

Overall, Hooker is No. 2 in scoring with 147 points. Foluke Akinradewo ranks No. 12 with 84 points. Larson’s 76 points are tied for No. 17.

Team USA has blocked its opponents from scoring better than any other team in the tournament. The Americans average 3.35 blocks per contest.

Two of the top individual blockers represent the stars and stripes. Akinradewo leads all competitors with 0.96 blocks per match. Hooker’s 0.91 blocks per game are tied for second.

As the second-best setting team in the tournament (14.39 sets per match), Team USA is allowing itself to control the tempo of its matches with offense. More sets means more chances to throw down a powerful spike, and we can see that the Americans are spiking with relative ease.

Lindsey Berg does the bulk of the setting for Team USA. Berg’s 9.91 sets per match rank No. 4 individually.

Libero Nicole Davis has done well for Team USA, as her 7.87 success percentage ranks third amongst her peers. The libero position is a defensive one, as it is not allowed to place the ball over the net. As a result, the libero is usually the shortest member of the volleyball team. The libero also wears a different color jersey than the rest of its teammates.

Since the calendar turned to August, Team USA has not given up a game to its opponents.

On July 30, the Americans took care of Brazil—the No. 2 team in the FIVB rankings—by a score of 3-1. Handing the next best team in the tournament that authoritative of a defeat made Team USA’s chances of winning gold all the more likely.

In 2012, it appears that in women’s volleyball, Team USA is in a different league than the rest of the world.

This calendar year, Team USA has lost only one match—on July 14 to Cuba in 2012 Women’s Pan American Cup pool play. With the dominant Olympic run, that seems like a long time ago.

Team USA has a 245.00 to 217.50 lead over Brazil in the FIVB world rankings. If the Americans can hold on and win gold in London, I think they will expand the gap between themselves and the rest.

Whatever plan head coach Hugh McCutcheon has drawn up for the squad has worked. Team USA’s far from broken strategy needs no fixing.

McCutcheon led Team USA men to gold in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Shortly after, he took over the women’s program, which has never won Olympic gold. Look at them now.

McCutcheon begins his first full season as the head coach of the University of Minnesota women’s team after the 2012 Olympics.

McCutcheon takes things one match at a time, even though Team USA is clearly the best on paper. According to K.C. Johnson of Chicago Tribune, whose article appeared on LATimes.com, McCutcheon said:

Everyone is going to be coming after us just because of the three letters we have on our shirt.

Has Team USA, then, dominated simply through intimidation? The rest of the world’s A game seems to be no match for the Americans, assuming it has brought it.

Recently, women’s volleyball has done a lot to put itself in the American conscious.

Of course, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings brought home their third straight Olympic gold in women’s beach volleyball. This time, the pair defeated fellow Americans April Ross and Jennifer Kessy in the gold medal match.

On the college court, Penn State women’s volleyball won 109 consecutive matches up to Sept. 10, 2010. According to gopsusports.com:

During the streak, which is the longest Division I women’s streak in history and second overall only to the Miami men’s tennis team’s streak of 137 straight matches, the Nittany Lions won an unprecedented three straight NCAA titles. Between Sept. 21, 2007 and Sept. 10, 2010, Penn State lost just 19 sets and won a record breaking 111 straight sets beginning with the final set of the 2007 National Championship match against Stanford and ending in the third set of the 2008 NCAA National Semifinal against Nebraska. In addition, Penn State won an NCAA-best 55 straight road matches and was not out-blocked for 68 consecutive matches.

Wow.

All things considered, my final thoughts about this topic: Team USA women are really good at sports that involve round balls and nets. Just ask Maya Moore, Abby Wambach and the Williams sisters, in addition to the volleyball players, about that.

UPDATE (9 Aug.): Team USA will meet Brazil in the gold medal match. Watch it during NBC’s evening coverage of the 2012 Olympics on Aug. 11.

The United States women lost to Brazil in the gold medal match at the 2008 Olympics. Following a straight-set win over South Korea in the 2012 semifinals, they are poised to improve on Beijing's silver-medal performance.

The U.S. did have a bit of a scare in the second set in their semifinal match. They trailed South Korea 20-17 but one of the U.S. stars, Destinee Hooker, scored the next four points, helping them tie the set at 21.

The U.S. Olympic Team shared the results on Twitter.

#TeamUSA defeated South Korea, winning three straight sets, in women's volleyball.Moving on to Saturday's GOLD medal game! #GoTeamUSA

— US Olympic Team (@USOlympic) August 9, 2012

The U.S. women have never won a gold medal in volleyball. Their first medal was also silver, achieved in 1984. They also secured the bronze medal in 1992 with a 3-0 victory over Brazil.

The U.S. struggled through group play in Beijing. They finished with a 4-1 record, but the only game decided in straight sets was their loss to Cuba.

They needed five sets to get by China and Poland, the latter of which didn't even make the medal round. They started the knockout round with a five-set win over Italy before easily dispatching tournament-favorite Cuba 3-0 (25-20, 25-16 and 25-17) in the semifinals.

As impressive as that win was, their momentum didn't last long. They won the second set against Brazil, but that was the only set Brazil would lose in the entire tournament.

Play has been different for the U.S. in London, though, as they've been the dominant team. They've only lost two sets thus far—one to Brazil and one to South Korea in pool play.

Brazil could very well be the team the U.S. women will have to beat to claim their first-ever gold medal.

Brazil finished pool play with a 3-2 record, securing the fourth seed out of Pool B. They beat Russia, who was 5-0 in Group A, to open play in the knockout round. They play Japan, the third seed from Pool A, later today to determine who will face the U.S. for gold.

The United States has already demonstrated its ability to beat Brazil. They also match up well against Japan should they advance.

Aside from getting the win, the best news to come from this match was the return of Lindsey Berg. The team captain hurt her ankle in the final game of pool play and was kept out of the team's quarterfinal win over the Dominican Republic.

Berg will be a big part of the U.S. attack in the gold-medal game...a mark that is overdue for the Americans.

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It's wild to think that there is only one beach volleyball match left in the 2012 London Olympics. Playing in one of the best venues, the German duo of Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann will be playing against the Brazilian pair of Emanuel Rego and Alison Cerutti for the gold medal.

It's really a battle of experience with this matchup, as Brazil's Emanuel has previously medaled two times in this event, winning a gold in Athens and a bronze in Beijing.

Neither Brink nor Reckermann have won an Olympic medal, but they do have a 2009 World Championship to their name. That does say a little something.

There is also this added pressure for the German team, as winning would make them the first European team to win an Olympic gold medal in men's beach volleyball.

So who's going to claim the gold?

People should definitely expect the Brazilians to come right out and establish some sort of dominance over the Germans, who will most likely struggle early as they take some time throwing away the nerves that come with this kind of match.

Emanuel, 39, is clearly the most decorated and experienced person in this match, competing in his fifth Olympics, but he also is the oldest.

Sure, getting to this game might have been tough on him, but you can't expect him to physically struggle in a game that he'll be so excited for, can you?

Rueters writer Estelle Shirbon quoted Emanuel saying this about how Alison, his 27-year-old partner, has motivated him (per NBC Olympics):

"He put some fire inside me, he brought motivation again. Every day we train together I have something new to change my game. That's the good feeling I have about this final because I'm playing with a young player who gives me everything."

Could this be the defining fact of the match?

Prediction No. 1

This one has the potential to be a blowout. Look for the Brazilian team to dominate the first set, winning 21-15 as the German squad tries to adjust to playing for a gold medal.

The second set would be a little more competitive if it weren't for a big play that will take place around point No. 14 for the Brazilians. You have to expect Emanuel to have one more moment that puts his age into question and defines the end of his Olympic career.

Alison and Emanuel should take the second set, 21-17, and celebrate the entire 11-hour flight back home to Brazil by winning the gold medal in a dominating match.

Prediction No. 2

It's the Olympics, people! They come around every four years, and if you got there, then chances are you know how to perform on a big stage.

Germany's Brink and Reckermann are no slouches—winning the 2009 World Championship does mean they can play—and it wouldn't be out of question for the Germans to steal the second set, 23-21.

Stepping up and forcing that third set could make the Brazilians uncomfortable enough to struggle in the third set, but in all reality, it should only make them play better.

The Brazilians should take the third set 15-12, and regardless of how you look at it, it's hard to see them losing this one.

But hey, that's why they play the game.

The United States men's volleyball team may watch their dreams of defending their gold medal from the Beijing Games evaporate with a stunning straight-sets loss to Italy in Wednesday's quarterfinals, but the American women are still chugging right along and now stand one win away from trying to avenge their loss to Brazil in the Olympic finals four years ago.

The U.S. women cruised past the Dominican Republic in straight sets Tuesday 25-14, 25-21, 25-22 to reach Thursday's semis, where top scorer Destinee Hooker and the Americans will face the South Koreans, a team they already defeated with relative ease once in this tournament.

That win came in the United States first game of the 2012 London Games, a 25-19, 25-17, 20-25, 25-21 victory in which Hooker paced the U.S. with 21 points and the Associated Press reported via nbcolympics.com that fans at Earls Court chanted "Des-tin-ee! Des-tin-ee!"

It may well be "destiny" that will help propel the United States into the gold medal match, but the Americans won't enter the rematch with South Korea without any question marks. Starting setter Lindsey Berg missed the match with the Dominicans with an injured ankle.

Berg's status for Thursday's semifinals is unknown. However, the U.S. didn't appear to miss a beat with reserve Courtney Thompson on the court against the Dominican Republic, and as Hooker told the AP, she's confident that if called upon, Thompson, a first-time Olympian, will once again deliver when it counts.

Courtney's a quarterback. She went out there and took control of the game. She knows our rhythm and it was great to have her on the court.

Regardless of how the U.S. gets to the final,s assuming they do, the world's top-ranked team just might get the shot at redemption they've sought since losing in four sets in China four years ago.

It took some doing, but the Brazilians also advanced to the semifinals, rallying from a two-sets-to-one deficit to defeat Russia and set up a match with Japan, who played their own five-set marathon to upset China.

So, while it's important, even vital that the United States women's volleyball team not overlook South Korea, the stage has been set, and if the Americans can hold up their end of the deal, then we may just get treated to the sort of gold medal rematch that Olympic drama is all about.

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While most of the volleyball world has had their eyes glued to Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh's run to a third-consecutive Olympic gold on the sand, there's probably one volleyball player that's barely caught your attention.

Her name would be Destinee Hooker, the up-and-coming opposite hitter for Team USA's indoor squad. And yes, she's heard all the jokes about her name, and yes, she is quite proud of it.

Now that the laughs are over, what do you know about the country's best weapon on the court? Probably not much.

The 24-year-old San Antonio native (she was born in Frankfurt, Germany, actually) is a 6'4" machine designed specifically to make opposing defenses suffer.

While May-Treanor and Walsh have been busy getting all the fame on the beach and the men's indoor team garnered a lot of attention with the likes of Matt Anderson, Clay Stanley and Reid Priddy leading up to their upset loss at the hands of the Italians, Hooker has been quietly leading her squad on a charge.

Hooker, a first-time Olympian, leads the team in scoring, and it's not even close. She has 102 kills to go along with 18 blocks and five service aces, totaling 123 points heading into Thursday's semifinal against Korea. That's third in the Games, behind only China's Yeon-Koung Kim (165 points) and Yekaterina Gamova of Russia (124 points).

The next closest American, Foluke Akinradewo, has just 72 points.

Team USA has noticed (as should you). Teammates feel she's playing like a seasoned veteran, not a green-in-the-ears player recently graduated from Texas.

But if anyone's noticed, it's probably the opposition.

Brazil's Guimaraes told TeamUSA.org, "It's complicated for the other teams, not for the American team."

For example, in the 2011 FIVB World Cup, Hooker tallied 39 points against China (a regular contender), and in the match that clinched Team USA an Olympic berth, she scored another 27 points against Italy.

Watch a match and you'll hear her name announced constantly on kills, on blocks, on serves, all over the court. Setter Lindsey Berg constantly looks for who Danielle Scott-Arruda refers to as "one of the best volleyball players in the world."

But you've probably never heard any of this talk. Most of the Olympics have been spent talking about LeBron James and company, Missy Franklin and Michael Phelps, May-Treanor and Walsh and everything in between.

But take a peek at Hooker. You're watching a rising star on the court, and you're just beginning to find out.

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh defeated fellow Americans Jen Kessy and April Ross to win their third consecutive beach volleyball Olympic gold medal, while Brazil bested China to earn bronze.

May-Treanor and Walsh became the first team to win the competition twice in 2008 and further cemented their place among the sports’ all-time greats with their latest piece of hardware.

In the first set, the team took a 17-14 lead over Kessy and Ross after an ace by Walsh. The underdogs took a timeout, but it did not slow down May-Treanor and Walsh’s momentum; and they took the set 21-16.

In the second set, Kessy and Ross remained competitive and were determined not to let the reigning gold-medal winners pull away. But once again, Walsh took a 17-14 lead with an ace, and an incredible dig by May-Treanor led to next point.

The second set also ended 21-16, and May-Treanor and Walsh proved to be the best in the world once again.

According to Worldbeachvolleyball.com, this was the 31st meeting between the two American teams since 2007, and the 26^th victory for May-Treanor and Walsh.

The greatest team in women’s beach volleyball history has played their final match, and they will retire, as noted by Sports Illustrated’s Phil Taylor. 

In the bronze-medal match, the Chinese were the aggressors in the first set and won 21-11. Zhang Xi and Xue Chen dominated the Brazilians, who looked out of sorts.

China appeared to be headed towards a blowout victory as Larissa continued her usual barking at teammate Juliana. But whatever she yelled seemed to be effective, and the two Brazilians were able to reverse the momentum.

In the next set, Larissa and Juliana fought to win 21-19, meaning the two teams would face off and the first to fifteen points would get a bronze medal. 

Brazil refused to let China regain control of the match and took a 6-2 lead early in the decisive third set. Zhang and Xue did not go out easily, and they were able to close the gap; but in the end, the Brazilians won 15-12, and both women earned their first Olympic medal.   

For the Chinese, Zhang is 27 years old and Xue is just 23; they will almost certainly be back to compete for a medal in 2016.

Larissa and Juliana are 30 and 29, respectively, and competing at the next Olympics in their home country will be extremely tempting.

The silver medalists have competed for the last time together. Kessy will be 39 years old when the Rio De Janeiro games come around, and Reid Forgrave of Fox Sports notes that she will retire.

Finally, the three-time gold-medal winners went out on top of the beach volleyball world, and their legacy will ensure that they stay there for quite some time.

All results from the tournament are available at NBCOlympics.com.

On Thursday the women's volleyball semifinals tips off in the 2012 Summer Olympics as favorites Brazil and the United States hope to win so a gold medal rematch sets up.

Team USA fell to Brazil 3-1 at the 2008 Beijing Games and the two countries have begun to separate themselves to another pedestal. On the contrary, South Korea and Japan look to defy the odds and spike to a monumental upset.

Japan took fifth in Beijing while South Korea failed to qualify. Ahead, though, let's briefly look at how each found their way into the semifinals and check out a quick match preview.

USA vs. South Korea, 10 a.m. ET

In group play the Americans dominated by going 5-0 and only losing two sets while winning 15.

Match 1 was against South Korea where the U.S. won 3-1 and Brazil was the only other country to take a set from Team USA. Facing the Dominican Republic in the quarterfinals, the U.S. once again swept in straight sets 3-0.

As for South Korea, they responded with a big win over Serbia 3-1 after losing to the Americans. South Korea then swept Brazil 3-0 but was upset by China and Turkey 3-2. They moved to the quarterfinals, however, in having a totaled eight group points to Turkey's six.

Taking on Italy in the bracket South Korea won impressively well 3-1 to rematch the U.S.

Here, U.S.A. has to come out strong, as they did before. Going up 2-0 in the first match, the U.S. gave away the third set and then proceeded to crush in the fourth. As long as Destinee Hooker and Jordan Larson continue to spike well the Americans will win quicker points and pull away early.

South Korea, on the other hand, must get more defensive production from Han Song Yi to complement Kim Yeon Koung's overall contributions. 

Brazil vs. Japan, 2:30 p.m. ET

Brazil is quite fortunate to be in the semifinals right now. They went just 3-2 in group play and finished in fourth with seven points.

Splitting their set wins and losses 10 each, Brazil managed to upset the Russian favorites 3-2; the Russians were a perfect 5-0 through group play. This clearly displays how tough Group B was by comparison, and fortunately a 3-2 win over Turkey in the first game paid off later on.

Japan also went 3-2 in group competition and took third to qualify. Ironically enough, all three wins were 3-0 sweeps, while the losses were 3-1 to Russia and Italy. Fortunately, Japan got a beatable opponent in China for the quarterfinal round and won 3-2.

Now possessing an immense amount of confidence, Japan has the potential to upset Brazil.

Led by Yukiko Ebata and Saori Kimura, Japan can really control the net and score effectively. Against China alone, the duo combined for 63 spikes. That said, Brazil won't be a cakewalk, as they have five players capable of scoring from anywhere.

In the previous round, Brazil saw Fabiana Claudino, Thaisa Menezes, Jaqueline Carvalho, Sheilla Castro and Fernanda Rodrigues all score into double digits. If Brazil maintains this eclectic production, Japan will get isolated real quick.

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Misty May-Treanor isn’t about to walk away from beach volleyball without a fight—that much is certain.

The all-USA final promises to provide a fantastic example of two teams at the top of their game—united under the same flag, but without a trace of comradeship.

April Ross and Jennifer Kessy will have no qualms about ruining May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh’s final game together, but they certainly don’t look at it that way.

Speaking after her own semifinal, Kessy gave her viewpoint:

“[...]I don't think we'd be a spoiler of anything. They've gotten their two gold medals." (via Nicole Auerbach, USAToday.com).

The stage is set for a classic encounter, so here are three things to look out for.

An Emotional Farewell

Whatever happens in tonight’s game, there will be tears. After showing such dominance of the sport—never having lost at the Olympics—May-Treanor and Walsh will no longer play together after tonight.

May-Treanor has been keen to leave a legacy with Walsh as “the best team that’s ever happened” (via SportsIllustrated.CNN.com) and there will be a huge amount of emotion held in check as the game progresses.

Whatever the result, the reaction of May-Treanor—and her partner—will be the same. Goodbyes don't get much bigger than this.

Tactical Maneuvering of the Ball

Kerri Walsh couldn’t be more suited for destruction at the net. With a 6'3" frame and a powerful kill, she has shown no mercy during her partnership with May-Treanor.

May-Treanor’s defense is better, but she can’t compete with her partner's natural instinct at the net. However, she has found herself taking the bulk of the spikes over the last few years, as opponents are now much wiser to Walsh and will try to make her set more than spike.

This match promises to be no different, so look for Kessy and Ross to keep Walsh away from the net.

Bizarre musical choices

So, you’re a Public Enemy fan, are you? Did you enjoy that last one? Well then, have we got the song for you. Coming up next: Katy Perry!

If you’ve not been watching beach volleyball, this sort of musical mismatch has been assaulting us via the PA system throughout the Games.

In classic English style, we’ve been treated to the Benny Hill theme whenever the sand has been raked over (We English would only be listening to it at home anyway, obviously.), and it’s been impossible to predict what will be played next.

If for some reason the final ends up being ridiculously dull, at least the music choices will be entertaining.

Now that the preliminary round is over and we are heading into the knockout stage of the tournament, the Team USA Women's Volleyball team will take on South Korea in the semifinals. The winner of this game will go on to face the winner of Brazil versus Japan in the gold medal game, while the losers face off against each other for the bronze.   

Team USA should not be worried about their matchup with South Korea. They have been the heavy favorite to win gold since the start of the Olympics and have certainly lived up to expectations thus far. After defeating the Dominican Republic in the quarterfinals, the Americans boosted their total record to 6-0. Their record in sets is even more impressive, with 18 sets won and only two lost.

South Korea, on the other hand, has not been nearly as successful. They can’t be confident that they have any chance against the Americans after they barely backed into the knockout round with a 2-3 record. Their record in sets was also barely over .500, winning 11 sets and losing 10. Their only bright spot was an impressive 3-1 victory over Italy—who finished group play with a 4-1 record—in the quarterfinals. 

Since both the USA and South Korea were in Group B, they already faced-off once in London. During this matchup, the USA got off to a hot start and won both of the first two sets by six and eight points, respectively. They got complacent and lost the third set by five points, but came back strong after winning the fourth set and earning the victory. 

The USA has dominated South Korea in all of the team statistics throughout the tournament. They were the best out of any team in spiking efficiency with 310 successful spikes and only 73 faults. They also were by far the best blockers in the tournament with 66 blocks and 168 rebounds in only 346 attempts. With Team USA as the best spiking and blocking team in the tournament, it will be very difficult for South Korea to defeat them. 

Even in the statistics that Team USA weren’t the best in the tournament at, they still were much better than South Korea were. In digs, Team USA finished in sixth with an average of 13.85. South Korea finished behind them with an average of only 12.68. The Americans also were significantly better at setting throughout the tournament. Team USA was second in this category with a 14.15 average, while South Korea finished eighth with an average of only 13.12.   

Team USA knows they have a mental and physical advantage over South Korea heading into this semifinal matchup. Not only have they already defeated them in their head-to-head matchup, but the Americans have also been much more dominant in their games against the rest of the competition as well. 

This match should turn out to be an easy victory for Team USA on their way to a second straight Olympic gold medal.