Surging men's volleyball team chasing gold

By STEVE RIVERA

Gannett News Service

ATHENS, Greece - Three-time Olympian Lloy Ball has never been in this situation before with his United States men's volleyball team - on the threshold of a possible medal.

It's a welcome feeling after years of struggle in the Olympic games, having endured an 0-5 debacle in 2000 and a 2-3 record in 1996.

The U.S. beat host Greece Wednesday night in a can't-believe-your-eyes finish, wiping out deficits in the fourth and fifth games. Ball, of Indianapolis, said anything is possible when the improbable already has occurred.

But its opponent Friday night is a huge step up compared with 13th-ranked Greece. Team USA faces No. 1 seed Brazil, a team it beat earlier in the week under different circumstances. Brazil (5-1) had already clinched the top seed and didn't play most of its top players, giving a lackluster performance.

That won't be the case on Friday at Peace and Friendship Stadium. The winner advances to the gold-medal game. The loser plays for bronze. Russia plays Italy in the other semifinal.

``We have a difficult match in front of us,'' said Brazil's Andre Nascimento.

As does Team USA. But Wednesday's inspiring win over host Greece helps.

``If this isn't motivation to get this semifinal then I don't know,'' Ball said. ``I've never gotten to this point. It's unbelievable for our young guys with them being in their first Olympics. We won't need much motivation to go into that semifinal.''

Brazil will be tough.

``We beat them and they've beaten us,'' said Clay Stanley, of Honolulu. ``You can say things over and over, but it's who comes to play.''

Stanley leads Team USA in kills (67) and aces (15). Reid Priddy has 63 kills, and Ryan Millar has a team-high 13 blocks.

Though the U.S. has already exceeded many expectations, the players want more.

``I thought we'd do some special things before we came here,'' USA's Kevin Barnett said. ``I read in all the papers how everybody had written us off. Everybody on the Internet had written us off. Heck, the telecasters didn't even know the right guys names.''