China meets Brazil, Cuba takes on US in Olympic women's volleyball semis

Host China will meet Brazil in the semifinals of the Olympic women's volleyball event, but the teams followed different path in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

The Chinese girls, who claimed the gold medal in an epic final against Russia in the Athens Games four years ago, edged out the same opponents 25-22, 27-25, 25-19 in the one hour and 24 minutes thriller.

In an earlier quarterfinal, world number one team Brazil was hardly tested before blitzing Japan 25-12, 25-20, 25-16 in just 67 minutes.

The team, labeled as the heaviest favorite for the gold medal, has now compiled a 6-0 clean sheet since the preliminaries and did not even drop one single set.

"It will be a very difficult match against Russia or China but our team is confident because of the way we have been playing," said Brazilian winger Sheilla Castro, the best scorer of the team.

Cuba also pulled off a solid game to beat Serbia 26-24, 25-19, 26-24, and will in the other semifinal take on the United States, who survived a five-set thriller to beat World Cup winner Italy.

The United States twice rallied from one set down to force a tie-breaker, which they won at 15-6.

"I felt very happy with the result, they can always bring me surprise. I am so proud of them," American head coach Lang Ping, a former Chinese player, said after the match.

Cuba, former world champions and Athens bronze medalists, met serious challenge from the Serbian girls in the beginning of the match. The opening set was close as either of the teams could pull away until the set was levelled at 24-all.

Cuban spiker Yumilka Ruiz hit an excellent smash and then an error from Serbia gave Cuba the first set.

It was in the second set that the Cuban girls, who won three straight Olympic gold medals in 1992, 1996 and 2000, have started to take control over the match.

After claiming the set at 25-19, Cuba took their opponents lightly in the third set while Serbia mounted a strong comeback and after two straight blocks from Maja Ognjenovic, the Serbian team overtook the lead at 22 -20.

However, Serbia was not consistent in the remaining time.

"We're pleased with this victory, and with the opportunity to fight for the medals. It was a tough match and Serbia are a tough team," said Cuba head coach Antonio Perdomo Estrella.

"Today's match was very difficult and both teams were under mental pressure. Despite the victory we didn't feel relaxed, and we must play better in the next two matches. All four teams will be feeling the same emotions."

Playing in a repeat of the Athens Games final, China and Russia both needed a win to stay on course especially after they compiled a disappointing 3-2 record in the preliminaries.

"We had chance to win the first and second sets, but we are troubled with our poor attack and the Chinese girls did a good job in blocking," Russian head coach Giovanni Caprara said.

The Russian girls did not give up even when they lost the first set and squandered two set points in the second set.

But in the third set, the team showed some signs of vulnerability when they were up 16-13. Since then, the match turned in China's favor, with the Russian attack stuffed on the net. China used a 12-3 run to take the set and the whole match.

"This was a very important game for us, we are so happy that we won because we knew that Russia is a very strong team," said China captain Feng Kun. "In the quarterfinals there are no weak teams, so we knew we must win every point, so we fought for each point and were successful in the end."

"This victory did not come easily. In the preliminary round we suffered setbacks, we lost two matches and we knew we needed to control our emotions in order to succeed."

８月１９日晚，中国女排顶住压力，以３：０战胜状态欠佳的世锦赛冠军俄罗斯队，昂首迈进北京奥运会四强。在２１日的半决赛中，中国队将迎战世界排名第一的巴西队。

中国队主教练陈忠和对在小组赛中表现有些起伏的队长冯坤给予了极大信任，让她打满全场。这位年近３０的主力二传手也用一场出色的发挥给予回报，率领中国队以２５：２２、２７：２５和２５：１９击败对手。在全场比赛中，冯坤的表现明显盖过俄罗斯队二传舍舍宁娜，后者组织进攻欠佳，让拥有加莫娃、阿塔莫诺娃等世界一流攻手的俄罗斯队无法展现出最强的攻击力。

中国队在拦网方面的出色发挥和俄罗斯队频繁的失误，也是决定比赛结果的重要因素。中国队１４次拦网成功，失误送分１７分，而俄罗斯队只有９次拦网得分，失误送分多达２５分。王一梅仍然是中国队最佳得分手，她和周苏红分别得到１１分和９分。

中国队开场有些慢热，一度以０：４落后。不过，随着比赛的进行，中国队逐渐进入状态，很快把比分扳成９平。此后，双方争夺非常激烈，多次交替领先。中国队加强了周苏红在二号位的快攻，效果不错。在第一局后半段，赵蕊蕊的扣球帮助中国队把比分扳成２２平，随后赵蕊蕊和冯坤联手拦住阿塔莫诺娃的重扣，杨昊扣球打手出界，加莫娃扣球失误。中国队一口气连得４分，以２５：２２赢得首局。

第二局比赛中，中国队再次上演在最后阶段翻盘的好戏，而俄罗斯队的失误帮了中国队的大忙。在２４：２２领先的情况下，索科洛娃两次扣球失误，一次进攻被赵蕊蕊拦死，中国队将比分反超为２５：２４。在中国队２６：２５领先的时候，俄罗斯队又在进攻中出现配合失误，中国队以２７：２５再下一城。

最后一局比赛，俄罗斯队无心恋战。双方打到１７平之后，俄罗斯队的连续失误和王一梅的一次大力跳发球直接得分帮助中国队以２１：１８领先。刹那之间，俄罗斯队突然崩溃，很快以１９：２５败下阵来。

拿下全场最高分１５分的加莫娃输得十分懊恼，不过这次她没有像雅典奥运会决赛之后那样痛苦。在板凳席上枯坐良久之后，２米０２的加莫娃握住舍舍宁娜伸出的手，站起身来，走出赛场，结束了这届奥运会的征程。

率领俄罗斯队夺得２００６年世锦赛冠军的意大利教练卡普拉拉赛后透露，他将辞去俄罗斯队主教练的职务。