They are "only human" but I also didn't like the strategy. W-J was having a bad night serving, spiking, setting (passing). That happens. Nothing can be done about the physical side of it. The Brazilians eventually picked up on it, but should have even sooner than they did.

Here's where I fault the USA team, including coach Karch Kiraly. W-J continued to spike, spike, spike, spike and spike some more. The Brazilians continued to effectively block, block, block, block, and block some more. W-J only made two (that I can remember) soft lobs/touches (whatever you want to call them) all night, which meant the Brazilians could exclusively attack the net and block agressively, effectively shortening the length of their court to just a few inches (most blocks take place within a few inches of the net). The Brazilians mixed their shots effectively, making the US team defend the whole court. Ross did a much better job with accuracy and variety, but the Brazilians eventually got smart and quit hitting it toward her so she didn't have as many chances.

Karch Kiraly is NOT the women's BEACH volleyball coach.
He coaches the women's INDOOR volleyball team.
Karch actually is doing a GREAT job.

I guess he was just there watching the other night. Whoever makes the decisions for the team made bad decisions last night.

THANKFULLY Kerri Walsh-Jennings and April Ross redeemed themselves and beat the #1 seeded team from Brazil.
This matchup should have been for the GOLD medal but only was for Bronze.

Although they lost the first set, they played as a team and looked a LOT more like what is EXPECTED.
Congrats to K-W-J and A-R !

W-J still didn't hit or pass as well as she's capable of, but she was considerably better than she was in the semi match. Their strategy was a little better, and from what little I saw of it, Ross "the new kid" was again the most solid of the 4 on the sand.

The US Women's Indoor Volleyball team laid a giant turd today, too. Lost to Serbia so now the best they can do is Bronze.

I watched that match. It was a heck of a match. It was tied 12-12 in the 5th game. The Serbians played very well and deserve respect.

I will concede, the Americans had a key player who sat out due to injury. But I still gotta give the Serbs some credit. They showed lots of game.

Doug

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This TOTALLY SUCKS DOG-POOP.
The USA should have swept GOLD for all 4 Volleyball events; Women's Beach/Indoor and Men's Beach/Indoor.
Everyone else should have been also-rans for SILVER. This is a pathetic JOKE.