U.S. women reach volleyball final

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LONDON, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Destinee Hooker led the United States to within one victory of its first Olympic women's volleyball gold medal Thursday in a three-set sweep of South Korea.

Hooker, who has dominated at the net throughout the Games for the unbeaten Americans, registered 21 spikes and three blocks in a 25-20, 25-22, 25-22 victory.

The United States will play for the Olympic title Saturday against Brazil, which needed only three sets to dispose of Japan in the other semifinal.

This will be the third appearance in an Olympic final for the American women and it will be the second straight Games in which the United States and Brazil have played for the title.

Brazil won in 2008, but the Americans defeated the Brazilians earlier in these Olympics during group play.

Team USA gained the momentum late in the first set against South Korea with four consecutive points that broke open what had been a 16-16 tie. The Americans then overcame a 20-17 deficit in the second set and raced to a 5-point lead in the third before holding off a final South Korean comeback bid.

In addition to Hooker's 24, points, Jordan Larson had 14 and Foluke Akinradewo added 12.

Brazil's win over Japan came by the set scores of 25-18, 25-15, 25-18.

There were 14 blocked shots for Brazil during the match and only one by the Japanese.