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VOLLEYBALL: Brazilian women put an end to years of heartbreak

Kim Willoughby of the US, right, spikes the ball as Brazil’s Fabiana Claudino, left, and Paula Pequeno attempt to block during the women’s volleyball gold medal match in Beijing yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Brazil’s women’s volleyball team put an end to years of heartbreak by winning the Olympic gold medal for the first time in their history yesterday, defeating the US by three sets to one.

Their 25-15, 18-25, 25-13, 25-21 victory in a high-class final came after three straight semi-finals and successive bronzes at the 1996 Atlanta Games and in Sydney four years later.

Defeat put paid to a fairytale finish for US coach Lang Ping, a member of the Chinese side that beat the US in the 1984 Olympic women’s volleyball final in Los Angeles.

Now the Americans will look to their men for volleyball gold when they too face Brazil in their final today.

Both sides matched each other spike for spike in the early stages, while Brazilian libero Helia Sousa and her American counterpart Nicole Davis thrilled the packed crowd with brilliant defensive play.

But gradually Brazil began to impose themselves on the game.

The 1.84m-plus tall pair of Paula Pequeno and Fabiana Claudino started to find their range with a succession of powerful spikes.

Brazil went nine points ahead as they surged into a 20-11 lead and Pequeno’s service winner gave them the first set.

At the start of the second set, the US led by the time of the first technical time-out thanks to forceful play by Tayyiba Haneef-Park and Heather Bown.

Nevertheless, Brazil repeatedly cut the US’ advantage to four points.

However a serve from Brazil’s Sheilla Castro, which sailed long made it 19-14 to the Americans. Brazil saved the first set-point, but could not save another as the US leveled at 1-1.

Their aura of invincibility punctured after 22 sets of dominance, Brazil showed they had touch to match their power, when Castro’s deft push into the open court helped them into an early lead in the third.

The Americans were struggling to beat the Brazilian blockers and Lang called a time-out with the South Americans 12-6 in front.

Faced with the pressure of a catch-up, American hits started to go long and serves hit the net before Steinbrecher’s spike put Brazil 2-1 up in sets and in sight of glory.

Now the match was a test of nerve as much as skill for the pumped-up players on both teams.

Great scrambling from Welissa Gonzaga in the back court edged Brazil in front, before more solid blocking took Brazil to the brink of a gold which was confirmed when a spike from Logan Tom went long.

Earlier yesterday, China beat Cuba to win the bronze medal.
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