US is triumphant following tragedy

A group hug was in order after the US dispatched Olympic favorite Brazil to win the gold medal. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)

BEIJING -- The United States men's volleyball team's Olympic journey began with tragedy.

One day after coach Hugh McCutcheon marched in the opening ceremonies, his father-in-law, Todd Bachman, was murdered, and his mother-in-law, Barbara Bachman, seriously wounded after being attacked while sightseeing at the Drum Tower in Beijing. The suspect jumped to his death from the tower.

Team USA, which won its first three games under assistant coach Ron Larsen, played with heavy hearts - but also with a renewed sense of focus - following the attack. McCutcheon returned to the bench with his team undefeated in the tournament.

The US capped a perfect run (8-0) through the Olympics yesterday, dethroning the defending champion and heavy favorite Brazil in four sets (20-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-23) before a near capacity crowd at Capital Gymnasium. The Americans earned their first gold medal since 1988. A day earlier, the Brazilian women beat the Americans to capture the gold.

After Clayton Stanley's spike was deflected out of bounds by Brazilian star Giba to secure the gold, McCutcheon was overcome with emotion and ran from the court to a private area to gather his thoughts.

"It was surreal," said McCutcheon, who took over the program in 2005. "It's still fresh and [I'm] unable to really assign any meaning to it. I will reflect on that down the road."

McCutcheon, understandably, had mixed emotions about winning the title.

"On one hand, I am grieving my father-in-law and my heart aches for my wife," he said. "On the other hand, I am extremely happy for my team. I am a little bit conflicted. I can embrace what has occurred and deal with it accordingly."

It seemed the Americans were a bit overwhelmed early, when they lost the first set.

"We made some uncharacteristic errors in the first set," McCutcheon said. "Some of the guys got upset at how they lost the first set."

The Americans regrouped in the second and third games propelled by Stanley, who collected a game-high 20 points.

The Brazilians would not go down easy, however, and led most of the fourth game until a Stanley spike tied the score at 20. The Brazilians were rattled and the Americans then scored 5 of the final 8 points, capped by Stanley's spike.

"From Day 1, it's been a team effort," said reserve Scott Touzinsky. "We fought, fought hard. It's been a long four years. We've gone through triumph and tragedy of the past four years. It's come full circle. Four years ago [McCutcheon] instilled a belief in our team. We were eighth in the world four years ago. For him to start this tournament off with his wife's father- and mother-in-law going to the hospital, to come here and win a gold medal, I can't be happier for him."

According to Touzinsky, McCutcheon's demeanor when he returned to the team rubbed off on the team and the players were able to focus on volleyball despite the difficult circumstances.

"He is a father to the whole team," Touzinsky said. "Ever since I met him he's been balanced -- never too high or too low. He sets team and family life apart. When he's on the court, he's with us 100 percent."

McCutcheon said his wife, Elizabeth, e-mailed the team Saturday night to support the team the way they supported her family following the tragedy. Barbara Bachman continues to recuperate in Minneapolis.

"The incident involving Todd . . . that influenced so many other people," McCutcheon said. She was pulling for them, the whole family [is] proud of what we have achieved."

McCutcheon said he will now turn his full attention to his family. Todd Bachman's funeral is set for Friday in Minneapolis.

"It was a total random act," McCutcheon said of the attack on the Bachmans. "There was no motive. Who knows why this guy did what he did. I've got to support my wife and family. My job is to get everyone through this. Sitting here getting angry, that is a waste of a lot of emotions."

Gregory Lee Jr. can be reached at glee@globe.com.