By Israel Gutierrez | The Miami Herald

BEIJING — Lloy Ball has a knack for making strong suggestions without saying a word.

David Lee was receiving those painfully obvious non-verbal messages throughout the final three sets of the U.S. men's volleyball semifinal against Russia.

It wasn't until the match's most crucial points that Lee finally responded.

"(Russian middle blocker Alexander Volkov) killed us all match, and Lloy's looking at me the whole time like, 'Do something! Stop him once,'" Less said. "I got him at the end."

With the fifth set tied at 12-12, Lee was all alone trying to block another Volkov quick attack. Lee not only stuffed Volkov, but the ball actually hit Volkov in the head on the way to the floor. Lee followed with a kill two points later and another block on match point, sending the U.S. team into a wildly emotional celebration - and into the gold medal match.

The 25-22, 25-21, 25-27, 22-25, 15-13 win against Russia, a team the U.S. is 2-12 against since 1996, assured the Americans of their first medal since their bronze in 1992. The U.S. team also won gold in 1984 and 1988.

It also continues an impressive showing from USA volleyball, which features the gold medal winners in both men's and women's beach volleyball and has both indoor teams in gold medal matches.

"We believe we're a really good team and believe we're right where we should be," outside hitter Reid Priddy said.

The Americans were close to experiencing a major letdown against the Russians after taking the first two sets of the match. Against the big, physical Russian blockers, the U.S. tried to a play a smarter game, including more tip kills over the Russian block than it has attempted all tournament.

But that strategy seemed to run its course after the first two sets, and by the time the fifth set began the U.S. appeared on the verge of wilting against the massive Russians.

"Our style is to keep the ball in play, block and play defense," Lee said. "It's not easy playing that kind of team because they are more physical than we are.

"We had to settle down because they came out in the third and fourth set and played great and served great."

After jumping out to a 6-3 lead, which is significant in the shortened fifth set, the Americans found themselves tied at 7-7. The teams exchanged points until Lee's point-scoring plays in three of the last four points secured the win.

"We kind of weathered the storm, as we always say," Lee said. "At first it's a thunderstorm on our end, and they came back with a hailstorm. We beat them down with a few lightning bolts at the end."

For Ball, a 36-year-old four-time Olympian, the gold medal match is the ideal way to end his Olympic career.

"I've been dreaming about it since I was 4 years old," he said. "Since my dad and I sat in our living room watching our old Zenith that you had to push the buttons to change the channel. We were watching the guys in '84 and '88 win gold medals. That's why I chose volleyball over basketball. That's why I brought my kid halfway around the world.

"I said at the beginning that winning or losing wasn't going to affect how I felt about myself as a player. But it sure as hell is going to be nice to have a medal in the house."

The win is additionally significant for the team given how the Games began - with head coach Hugh McCutcheon's father-in-law being murdered and his mother-in-law seriously injured in a random attack.

Ball said McCutcheon's coaching during his four-year tenure is the primary reason the U.S. finds itself back near the top of international volleyball.

"When he came in, he decided we weren't going to settle for just being middle of the road, or settle for being maybe a contender," Ball said of McCutcheon, a New Zealand native. "He got the guys in good training facilities. He got the guys on good teams overseas. He got a new philosophy as far as working hard, working together, no superstars, picking each other up. And everyone bought into it.

"I'm not so sure four years ago the team wouldn't have folded. But under Hugh's guidance, and with the maturation of some of our players, it's a different feeling."