BEIJING // The USA women's volleyball team advanced to the gold medal game, defeating Cuba in three sets to guarantee the Americans their best Olympic finish since 1984. The USA will play the winner of the Brazil v China semi-final for the Olympic title on Saturday. Cuba, three-time Olympic gold medal winners, will play the loser of that semi-final for the bronze. The USA earned their place in the last four with key victories over China in preliminary pool play and over Italy in five sets in the quarter-finals. Cuba went undefeated in pool play, then defeated Serbia in three sets in the quarter-finals. The Cubans won gold medals in 1992, 1996 and 2000.
*AP
