U.S. women’s volleyball sees a spike in its medal chances
Wednesday, 20 August 2008 04:00
Author: TRiNiTy
U.S. women’s volleyball sees a spike in its medal chances
Setter Lindsey Berg helps the Americans rally past Italy to reach the semifinals, in which they’ll face nemesis Cuba.
BEIJING – Trailing, 2-1, and looking toward the worst of all Olympic losses in the dreaded quarterfinals – when a win means a possible medal and a loss secures fifth place – the U.S. women’s volleyball team dug down and then deeper in the wee hours Wednesday morning.
With the familiar “U-S-A, U-S-A” chant ringing in their ears, the Americans rallied behind the emotional lift and stabilizing presence provided by setter Lindsey Berg to defeat Italy, 20-25, 25-21, 19-25, 25-18, 15-6, to advance to the medal round against Cuba.
“Even though they crushed us in pool play, we’re just going to keep fighting as a team,” said Berg of the Americans’ three-set loss to Cuba, their only setback here. “If we can just pass a little better, touch a few more balls and get in Cuba’s head a little bit, they can break down like any team.”
