RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — The United States upset five-time defending champion Brazil 25-23, 25-22, 27-25 today to reach a World League volleyball final against Serbia.

Honolulu's Clay Stanley had 11 kills, three aces and two blocks to lead the U.S. with 16 points. Brazil's Dante Guimaraes Amaral picked up 17.

Stanley is a Kaiser High and University of Hawai'i alum.

Serbia advanced by beating Russia 25-19, 25-19, 25-23 behind 22 points from Ivan Miljkovic.

The last time Brazil failed to win the World League title was in 2002, when it finished second.

"We made several of the same mistakes we have made in the past and in a match like this one they can make all the difference," Brazil's Andre Heller said. "There is no denying it, they were much better than us."