US Women to Play for Olympic Gold in Volleyball

Destinee Hooker #19, Tamari Miyashiro #5, Logan Tom #15, and Jordan Larson #10 of United States celebrates after defeating Korea in the Women's Volleyball semifinal match on Day 13 of the London 2012 Olympics Games. Elsa/Getty Images

For the third straight Olympics, the U.S. women’s indoor volleyball team is heading to the gold-medal match, hoping to reverse its previous two failures.

After its weak performance against the Dominican Republic, the U.S. side needed a good performance to restore its confidence. Its opponent, the Korean team, had the height and power to challenge the U.S. if it played anything but its best.

The U.S. met the challenge, winning 25–20, 25–22, 25–22. With starting setter Lindsey Berg back from her injury, the U.S. women did everything just a little better than their opponents. They scored 50 kills, attacking with 40 percent efficiency, to Korea’s 27 percent, blocked 48 to Korea’s 38, and had nine hitting errors to Korea’s 13.

Destinee Hooker, America’s artillery unit, provided 21 kills and six blocks; Nicole Davis, Jordan Larson, and Logan Tom dug 15, 11, and ten balls respectively. Lindsey Berg, her injury obviously healed, put up 65 sets.

All this was just a little too much for Korea.

The U.S. women will face Brazil in the Final Saturday, August 11.