WNY Olympians: Silver For Kaminski, Big Win For Anderson

Captain Clay Stanley added 13 points in the 25-17, 25-22, 25-21 victory at Earls Court.

The Americans are not considered a favorite in London despite a silver-medal finish in the recent FIVB World League tournament. But they were formidable against Serbia, which won the Olympic gold in Sydney in 2000 and finished fifth in Beijing in 2008.

Marko Podrascanin had 13 points, including two aces, for the Serbians.

"It was a good match. We fought hard and won in three straight, which is pretty much exactly what our game plan was to do," Anderson said. "We wanted to serve tough and put a lot of pressure on them, and I think we executed that pretty well."

Four years ago, the U.S. men went undefeated in Beijing, upsetting Brazil in the final. That team was coached by Hugh McCutcheon, whose father-in-law was stabbed to death at a Chinese tourist site just before the opening ceremony. The coach left the team for several matches to be with his family.

McCutcheon shifted to the U.S. women's team following Beijing, and Alan Knipe took a leave of absence as coach of Long Beach State to coach the men for London.

The U.S. is ranked No. 5 by volleyball's governing body. The team is in a difficult pool in London, joining top-ranked Brazil, perennial powerhouse Russia, Serbia, Germany and Tunisia. In the other pool are Italy, Poland, Argentina, Bulgaria, Australia and host Britain.

The U.S. jumped to an 18-7 lead in the first set and the public address announcer proclaimed it an "absolute mauling." David Lee spiked for set point. Serbia went up 6-2 in the second set before the Americans rallied. The Serbians managed to hold off the Americans for three set points before a return error ended the set.

David Suxho's ace made it 15-7 in the third, and the Americans were on their way, drawing chants of "U-S-A!" from the crowd.

"It was a well-played match, and it was probably more the mindset of the players that got them through," Knipe said. "We did a really good job to maintain our composure when we were down in the second set."

Serbian wing spiker Milos Nikic gave credit to the United States for the victory.

"We didn't really get into it. We played well in parts, but we didn't keep our momentum," he said. "We can play better."

Since volleyball became an Olympic sport in 1964, the U.S. men have won three gold medals - Los Angeles in 1984, Seoul in 1988 and Beijing in 2008. The men won the bronze in 1992.

LONDON (WBEN/AP) -- Elma's Jake Kaminski can claim a special honor -- he and his teammates on the men's archery team earned the very first medals for the United States at the Olympic Games in London.

It came down to the final arrow, but the U.S. missed out on Olympic gold -- by one point.

Italy topped the trio of Brady Ellison, Jacob Wukie and Jake Kaminski Saturday for the team gold, while South Korea took the bronze.

"I wasn't disappointed that we got a silver. I was, on the inside, very, very ecstatic that we became Olympic medalists," Ellison said. "The more it's around my neck, I mean, this thing has some weight to it. It sets in. We are Olympic medalists - and it doesn't matter the color."

United States' Brady Ellison, right, celebrates with teammate Jake Kaminski after beating South Korea in the semifinal of the team archery competition during the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

U.S. Olympic archer Jake Kaminski trains at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 21, 2012, in London. Archery competition at the London Olympics begins July 27. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Michele Frangilli, Marco Galiazzo and Mauro Nespoli hugged and raised their hands in celebration after the final arrow from Frangilli beat the Americans 219-218 at Lord's Cricket Ground. The gold was Italy's first ever in the event.

Frangilli, who was part of a team bronze in 1996 and won silver in Sydney four years later, called the final a "very hard fought" match.

"I have been chasing this medal for 16 years," he said through a translator.

"With the last arrow that hit, I think it was my dream. I think it was my biggest contribution."

The Americans said that even though they still have individual competition remaining, they came to London focused on the team competition, simply because they thought sharing in the experience of winning a medal would be more powerful to the group than taking one individually.

"We've worked so hard prior to this to build a strong team and to train as a team," Wukie said. "And so, obviously, it paid off."

And the significance of being the first American medalists at the 2012 Games was not lost on them.

"If that's all we're known for for the rest of our lives ... I think we'll all be pretty proud of that," Ellison said.

Toward the end of the gripping final, Frangilli said he heard the crowd noise after Galiazzo scored an eight on his last shot. When Frangilli stepped up for his final shot there was "incredible pressure" and he tried to "empty his head a little bit," knowing he needed a 10 for the victory.

"I really tried to find the right technique, and I knew I hit the golden area," he said. "When I heard 10, I was obviously very, very happy."

In their victory over South Korea in the semifinal, the Americans started slowly but were able to come back, 224-219. Not the case against the Italians. The Americans pulled within 165-163 at the end of the third round.

"For some reason it's just kind of something we've been doing lately," Ellison said, referring to recent slow starts, adding that three of the Americans' arrows missed a 10-score by a quarter inch.

Italy beat Mexico 217-215 to make the final. The top-ranked South Koreans beat Mexico 224-219 for their bronze after falling to the Americans by five points in the semifinals. South Korea was led by Im Dong-hyun, the visually impaired archer who set the first world record of the games Friday, breaking his own mark in the 72-arrow event and helping to set a team record in the opening round.

One thing that surprised the Americans: Yes, those Olympic medals have some heft. Ellison quipped that he "could do a workout with this thing," as his teammates looked down at the medals dangling from their necks.

And apparently they'll all keep them in the same place: Their respective sock drawers.

"It's not all that life is about," Kaminski said. "It's something that I'm going to keep close to me. And I don't need to shout about it."

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written by Betsy Blaney / AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds contributed to this report.

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