Russia sinks U.S. men in volleyball

Advertiser Staff and News Services

ATHENS, Greece — Russia is one of the biggest, most powerful men's volleyball teams in the world. Team USA received another reminder of that yesterday.

Russia's Vadim Khamuttskikh (9) celebrates the winning match point against the U.S. team. Hawai'i's Clay Stanley had 19 kills for Team USA. Associated Press

After opening with a five-game loss to the Netherlands, Russia has won two straight. The U.S. team fell to 1-2 as Kaiser graduate Clay Stanley, Team USA's most imposing offensive threat, struggled against the towering block.

"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 led the Americans with 22 points. "I took a few good swings down the line and I was feeling good on that, but you can only take so many before they start to figure it out."

Russia took its first lead of the fourth game at 14-13, and things went back and forth until Alexey Kuleshov blocked 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.

Dineykin created more excitement earlier, swearing at the U.S. fans during a break.

"From then on there was an intense rivalry going on between the U.S. fans and him," said Desi Duran, Stanley's girlfriend. "Anytime he went up to serve or hit a ball, U.S. fans booed him. We have huge support at our matches, especially from the local Greeks, which makes it great."

The Americans scored seven of the match's first eight points with Stanley serving. Russia, with five players back from the team that won silver in Sydney, found its rhythm in the second game and took over. Alexey Kuleshov outblocked the entire USA team, 9-8. Overall, Russia registered 19 blocks.

"It's a tough one to lose but I really thought our guys played their hearts out," said U.S. head coach Doug Beal. "I thought they fought for every point. The third set really didn't go very well for us, but we came back in the fourth and we had some leads."

Stanley finished with 19 kills, two blocks and an ace. He has scored at least 21 points in each match and ranks second in the Games with 74 points.

The U.S. men (1-2) have Australia and Brazil left in pool play. The U.S. women (1-2) might have to win both their remaining matches to advance after a stunning five-game loss to the Dominican Republic Wednesday.

"We were kind of flat coming out and that really hurt us in the first set," said former UH All-American Heather Bown. "Had we pulled that one out, it would have been a different outcome.

"You need the fire and you need the energy in every match when you're here because everybody is going ... after the USA. Everybody wants to beat us, and we have to go on the court with that attitude that we've got to defend everything we've got."

The Americans, who had three match points, had won 24 of the 25 meetings between the two teams previously.

The team plays 2000 Olympic silver medalist Russia today and three-time defending gold medalist Cuba Sunday.

"I think we have to win both," admitted USA head coach Toshi Yoshida. "To get out of pool play we need to get wins, and both of our remaining matches are going to be even tougher. We just put ourselves in a very, very difficult situation."

Athens2004.com and usavolleyball.org contributed to this report.