Colorado University Athletics
RUSSIA TOPS USA IN FOUR
ATHENS, Greece - Russia is one of the biggest, most powerful teams in the world. Already well aware, the United States received another reminder.
Stanislav Dineykin had 20 kills and three blocks to lead the Russians to a four-set victory over the Americans, 22-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-23 on Thursday.
After opening with a five-set loss to the Netherlands, Russia has won two straight. With opposite Clay Stanley struggling against a towering Russian block, the United States fell to 1-2.
"I need to do a better job of seeing that they're there _ or hitting it a little sharper or hitting it more down the line," said Stanley, who still finished with 22 points.
"I took a few good swings down the line and I was feeling good on that," he said, "but you can only take so many before they start to figure it out."
Russia took its first lead of the fourth set at 14-13, and things went back and forth until Alexey Kuleshov blocked a kill attempt by Stanley to make it 24-22.
The Americans were only able to fend off match point once. Fittingly, the 7-foot-1 Dineykin ended it with a kill that bounced off Lloy Ball.
"Both teams played very well, but we made less mistakes," Dineykin said.
That's exactly how the Russians succeed.
After falling behind 7-1 and losing the first set, Russia found its rhythm. Nearly impossible to blow out with their grinding, defensive-oriented style, the Russians play a smart, patient game and use their raw power at the net when it matters most.
Given a spark from reserve middle blocker Andrey Egorchev, Russia won the last three sets. Vadim Khamuttskikh, the bearded, animated setter who is playing in his third Olympics, deftly guided the offense.
Dineykin and his fellow blockers frustrated Stanley and the other American hitters, and the Russians' serve was nearly flawless.
"That's one of the strong points of their game," U.S. libero Erik Sullivan said. "They get up by a couple _ that just makes it that much easier for them to do that. I think they hit three balls out."
Still, the Americans have been playing well _ erasing the memory of a winless tournament in 2000.
"I'm really, really proud of this team," coach Doug Beal said. "We haven't given up a set that the other team hasn't had to play really well to beat us."
It's not quite the same years after the Cold War, but these teams have created one of the sport's classic rivalries. This is already their sixth meeting since the end of June, with Russia winning three of five during a summer exhibition tour in Texas.
The Americans and Russians, including those won before the Soviet Union breakup, have combined to win 10 of the 30 medals awarded in men's volleyball since its Summer Games debut in 1964. And each team boycotted one Olympics in the 1980s.
Neither country has won gold since the U.S. in 1988, but both squads figure to have a fighting chance if they can survive their merciless pool and advance to next week's quarterfinals.
Brazil remained the only unbeaten team in Pool B with a four-set victory over the Netherlands. Italy, bouncing back from a five-set loss to Brazil, stayed right behind with a sweep over Australia.
In Pool A, Argentina is 3-0 after handing host Greece its first loss. France picked up its first win by beating Poland in three sets, and defending gold medalist Serbia-Montenegro swept Tunisia.
The Russians _ who have five players left from the silver-winning team in Sydney four years ago _ must face Brazil and Italy. The Americans have Australia and Brazil left on the preliminary schedule.
"We don't need to go back, hang our heads and freak out about our next match," Sullivan said. "We just need to make some more adjustments."
Kevin Barnett's kill sealed the first set, a powerful shot that glanced off a Russian blocker and knocked over libero Alexey Verbov as he set up to receive. With Stanley _ their best server _ behind the line, the Americans scored seven straight points to grab an early 7-1 lead.
That woke up the Russians.
"At the beginning we thought that we did not have to give our best, but that proved totally wrong," Egorchev said. "These are the Olympic Games and we are obligated to give 100 percent of our effort."