Top-Ranked Brazil Downs USA in Exhibition Match at Clune
6/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
June 17, 2008
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Two of the top volleyball teams in the world concluded a three-match series at the Air Force Academy's Clune Arena on Saturday, June 14, as a part of the 2008 Olympic Exhibition series. The U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team, ranked fourth in the world, and the top-ranked National Team of Brazil played three matches during a four-day span, with Brazil taking a 2-1 mark.
Prior to the start of the match, the teams agreed to play five sets, regardless of the outcome, to help the respective coaching staffs evaluate players for the upcoming Olympic Games. Brazil defeated the U.S. women's national team four sets to one in front of 3,022 fans. Brazil took the first three games 25-16, 25-20, 25-18, before Team USA responded with a 25-20 victory in the fourth set. Brazil concluded the evening with a 15-8 win in the final game.
The squads split the first two matches, which were held in front of sellout crowds at the Olympic Training Center. Brazil won Wednesday's opening match, 3-2 (25-20, 21-25, 23-25, 25-21, 17-15), before Team USA rebounded with a 3-2 (25-21, 19-25, 29-27, 17-25, 15-11) win on Friday.
These were the first domestic home matches for the U.S. women's team since 2006 and its first such match against Brazil since 2005. The exhibition series in Colorado Springs was one of several events to help the U.S. coaching staff determine the final 12-player roster that will travel to Beijing, China, for the 2008 Olympic Games.
The match from Clune Arena will be broadcast by MSNBC on Sunday, June 29, at noon (EST).
