US Olympic Volleyball Team 2012: Gold-Medal Game Time, TV, Preview, Prediction

USA vs. Brazil, gold medal women's indoor volleyball match

Time: 1:30 ET

TV: It will be broadcast tape-delayed during NBC prime time and can be found live on NBC live extra.

Rosters

Team USA: Danielle Scott-Aruda, Christa Harmotto, Foluke Akinradewo, Tayyiba Haneef-Park, Destinee Hooker, Lindsey Berg, Courtney Thompson, Tamari Miyashiro, Nicole Davis, Jordan Larson, Megan Hodge, Logan Tom

Brazil: Sheilla Castro, Adenizia Silva, Danielle Lins, Fabiana Oliveira, Fabiana Claudino, Fernanda Rodrigues, Natalia Pereira, Paula Pequeno, Thaisa Menezes, Jaqueline Carvalho, Tandara Caixeta, Fernanda Ferreira

Repeat Competition:

This match is eerily similar to the 2008 gold medal match when Brazil beat Team USA for the gold medal. 

How They Got Here

Both teams sailed through the elimination rounds. Team USA actually beat Brazil in an early round match 3-1.

Team USA has not dropped a set during the elimination rounds while Brazil had a five set match against Russia. 

Players to Watch

Destinee Hooker is an American outside hitter who has led Team USA to the finals with her strong attack skills.

Sheilla Castro leads Brazil with 125 points.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Team USA has a strong offense led by Hooker with many other key hitters and the leadership of Logan Tom. They do not have the most effective serving though.

Brazil also has a very strong offense with lots of depth. They struggle on defense though and their digging percentage ranked eighth out of the eight teams in the elimination rounds.

Prediction

This match is going to be an offensive battle and the key is going to be which team can turn on its defense to shut down the opponent. I think Team USA has the more solid defense and it will show. Team USA will win, but it will be a five set battle.