The United States women's volleyball team was undefeated in Olympic play and the top ranked team in the world heading into Saturday, but for the second straight Olympics, Team USA was beaten by Brazil in the gold medal game and will have to settle for silver.
Brazil beat the United States 11-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-17 to capture its second straight gold medal in the event.
The United States has never won gold in the event, capturing its third silver medal on Saturday.
Team USA also lost to Brazil in the gold medal game in the 2008 Olympics. The Americans beat Brazil during pool play, and had beaten Brazil six straight times in international events before their Saturday loss. This was the ninth Olympic meeting between the two countries, with Brazil winning five of the nine battles.
The United States women's volleyball team is 30-2 this season, including 7-1 in the London Olympics. They had lost just two sets in the Olympics before falling on Saturday.
In the gold medal match, former Long Beach State players Dannielle Scott-Aruda and Tayyiba Haneef-Park each had one point for the United States in defeat.
For more news and information on the 2012 London Olympics, be sure to read SB Nation's Olympic Hub.
