US Men’s Volleyball Team Wins One for the Coach

The US men’s volleyball team took the court in Beijing, less than 24 hours after learning that their coach’s inlaws were attacked at a Beijing landmark, killing Coach McCutcheon’s father-in-law, Todd Bachman, and critically injuring his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Bachman. After a moment of silence to honor their Bachman family, however, it was all business for the team.

The US men easily defeated the Venezulean team in the first two sets, but the Venezuleans rallied back to tie the match at two sets each before the Americans prevailed in the fifth set.

It is uncertain whether Coach McCutcheon will return to the team during the Olympic Games. The team is being coached in his absence by assistant coach, Ron Larsen. Coach McCutcheon is married to former Volleyball Olympian (2004), Elisabeth Bachman.

Other Sunday men’s volleyball results are as follows:
Russia over Serbia – 3 to 1
Italy over Japan – 3 to 1
Brazil over Egypt – 3 to 0
Bulgaria over China – 3 to 1
Poland over Germany – 3 to 0

^{(photo © Newscom)}