U.S. men's volleyball outlasts Russia, will play Brazil for gold medal

Following a four-set victory July 27 over Serbia in the final of the FIVB World League, Highland of Palmdale graduate Ryan Millar said the U.S. men's volleyball team entered the Olympics as the "legitimate No. 3 team in the world."

After Friday's 25-22, 25-21, 25-27, 22-25, 15-13 semifinal victory over No. 2 Russia at Capital Indoor Stadium, the Americans have an opportunity to once again be the best Sunday in the gold medal match against top-ranked Brazil, a four-set semifinal winner over No. 10 Italy.

The U.S., which lost to Russia in the 2004 bronze medal match in Athens and again in the 2007 World Cup final, is seeking its first men's indoor volleyball gold medal since 1988. The Americans won back-to-back gold medals in 1984 and '88 and followed with a bronze in 1992, but haven't medaled since, going winless in 2000.

Reid Priddy led the U.S. with 17 kills and 12 digs, Pierce College alum Riley Salmon added 13 kills and 10 digs, Millar added 12 kills and two blocks, and Clay Stanley recorded 11 kills and six digs for the Americans, who rallied from a 12-11 deficit in the final set. Pepperdine graduate Sean Rooney sparked a six-point scoring run for the U.S. to close out the second set.

The U.S. had an opportunity to close the match out in three sets, rallying from a three-point deficit to tie the score at 24-24 in the third, but Russia extended the match before forcing a deciding fifth set with a convincing win in the fourth.

The Americans swept Brazil 25-23, 25-22, 27-25 in Rio de Janeiro on July 26 to reach the FIVB World League final. Brazil defeated Italy in 2004 in Athens to capture the gold medal.

Brazil beat the Americans in four sets in the 1992 semifinals in Barcelona en route to capturing the gold medal.