Net gain
In an emotional final, a sterling effort by US women produces a silver
BEIJING - While gold still isn't part of the US women's volleyball team's Olympic résumé, it will be leaving China with a medal it hasn't touched in 24 years.
The US won the silver for the second time after falling to Brazil in the gold medal match last night at the Capital Gymnasium. The Brazilians won their first gold in the sport by beating the Americans, 25-15, 18-25, 25-13, 25-21.
The silver is the US' first Olympic medal in women's volleyball since it won bronze at the 1992 Barcelona Games. The US also won silver at Los Angeles in 1984.
"There were good emotions, very happy," said US wing spiker Logan Tom, who had 15 spikes. "You look out from the medal stand and realize how long you've been working for something. The dreams that you accomplished today are not only for us but for our families after their support back home."
The Brazilians, who won the match in 95 minutes in front of 13,000 fans, had never won anything better than a bronze (2000, 1996). But they have been strong in recent years, finishing second in the 2007 World Cup and the 2006 World Championships.
"We know they have a strong block and that's what they've been working on in their other matches," said US universal Tayyiba Haneef-Park, who had nine spikes. "They were able to take out our outside hitters. I think we probably could've moved the ball around a little bit more."
Said Tom, "We had a little shakeup technique-wise, but we all fought hard out there. That's the best you can do, especially in the gold medal match."
Former Olympian Elisabeth "Wiz" Bachman, who was on the US' 2004 team, sent a motivational and moving e-mail to the team that was read prior to the match. Bachman's father, Todd, was stabbed to death on the first day of Olympic competition in Beijing.
"We read it before," Tom said. "She's here. She watched this morning. It's totally emotional. Something like that never dies in your heart."
The US has never won a major competition in women's volleyball other than golds in the World Grand Prix in 2001 and 1995. The Americans, however, showed major improvement in these Olympics after finishing no better than fourth in the previous three. They beat a favored Cuban team in the semifinals that swept them in preliminary action to advance to the gold medal game.
"I'm happy we went as far as we did as a team," Tom said. "I'm proud that we got a medal for our country, but I'm more proud of our performance here and we stuck together throughout that."
Said Haneef-Park, "It's what we've been working hard for. It's what we dreamed of. Unfortunately, we didn't get the gold. But you can't be too disappointed with a silver medal.
US middle blocker Danielle Scott-Arruda, 35, won her first medal in her fourth Olympics and said she hopes to be able to go for another at London in four years.
"We have a lot of [older players], but we also have a good, strong core that we are building with our younger players, too, that are alternates that have been training with us for a while," Tom said. "I see brightness for USA Volleyball."
Said Haneef-Park, "A lot of players will get some rest. Who knows if they will come back or not? I think we can put together a very strong team again if a lot of players return." 