RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Leaning over, hands on her knees and cheering at every chance, injured U.S. star Foluke Akinradewo could only watch. The top-ranked Americans had fought back to force a fifth set against Serbia before falling short — short of the gold-medal goal that had driven her and others back to the national team for one more Olympic cycle.
Serbia's players cried in triumph after the biggest win in their program's history. They reached the Rio de Janeiro championship, guaranteeing the country's first women's volleyball medal after a 20-25, 25-17, 25-21, 16-25, 15-13 victory.
"Right now, this loss is deeply disappointing.