University of Colorado Athletics
USA MEN SWEEP NETHERLANDS
ATHENS, Greece - The United States men's volleyball team rejoiced in a fine performance against the Netherlands with several rounds of hugs and cheers.
Yes, the Americans were happy, but this straight-sets victory was, more so, a huge relief.
Opposite Clay Stanley led an all-around effort with 21 points, and the U.S. swept the Dutch 26-24, 25-20, 25-18 on Tuesday.
"We finally got one," outside hitter Kevin Barnett yelled as he left the floor, referring to his team's first win at the Summer Games since 1996.
The Americans ended a nine-match Olympic losing streak with very few errors, strong defense and excellent serving. Reid Priddy added nine kills.
"That wasn't a monkey," middle blocker Tom Hoff said. "That was a gorilla we had strapped back there."
Doug Beal, who guided the U.S. team to its first gold medal in 1984 and returned to coach again in 2000, earned his first Olympic win since Los Angeles.
After going 0-5 in Sydney, the winless streak was something most of the men were thinking about.
"It's hard not to," Beal said. "But I don't recall talking about it ever. ... This is the 2004 team. I told them, 'It's whatever you guys make of it.'"
With powers Russia and Brazil remaining on the preliminary schedule, the U.S. couldn't afford another loss in the ultra-competitive Pool B after falling in four sets to Italy two days ago. Australia and the Netherlands are the only teams in the group not ranked in the world's top six.
"I think we have probably one of the hardest pools ever put together in Olympic history," American captain Lloy Ball said.
Italy outlasted Brazil in a five-set thriller, and Russia swept Australia earlier. In Pool A, Greece beat Poland in four, Serbia-Montenegro swept France, and Argentina defeated Tunisia in five.
The Dutch were not to be taken lightly, as the Russians found out in a five-set loss on Sunday. Though they arrived in Athens ranked 13th, three players _ outside hitter Guido Gortzen, opposite Richard Schuil and middle blocker Mike van de Goor _ were on the 1996 gold medal team.
Netherlands coach Bert Goedkoop called the opening win a "dream start," and that momentum continued into the first set.
Holland stayed between two and four points ahead for most of the set and took a 23-19 lead before Stanley took over.
The Americans won seven of the last eight points, and the former Hawaii star and first-time Olympian had three kills and a well-timed, highlight-reel ace during that spurt.
"We started very well," said Dutch captain Reinder Nummerdor, who had a team-high 11 points and eight kills. "We had a great chance in the first set, and then they came with a very big serve at the right moment."
Said Goedkoop: "There is no game plan left when you get outserved."
Middle blocker Ryan Millar, who played sparingly against Italy because he's recovering from a sprained ankle, was back in the U.S. starting lineup and provided a spark late in the second set.
The U.S. scored five straight points, two on kills by Millar and the last on his block that extended the lead to 22-16. He clenched both fists in celebration and danced around in a semicircle before joining the team huddle.
Stanley ended the set with a vicious spike shortly after that. The Dutch and their large contingent of orange-clad fans were deflated by then, and the Americans weren't really threatened in the final set.
"I've never won here," Millar said. "I'll be thinking about this forever. It was so important for us."