Russia is one of the biggest, most powerful teams in the world. Already well aware, the United States received another reminder.
Stanislav Dineykin had 20 kills and three blocks to lead the Russians to a four-set victory over the Americans, 22-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-23.
Stanislav Dineykin shows how wide the gap is between Russia and the U.S.
(Morry Gash -- AP)
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 | | _____ Day 7 _____
• American gymnast Carly Patterson wins the gold medal in the all-around.
• In swimming news, Michael Phelps wins his fourth gold, while Aaron Peirsol and Amanda Beard win golds of their own.
• The U.S. men's basketball team starts slowly but comes back to beat Australia, 89-79.
• The U.S. softball team remains unbeaten as it rolls to another victory, 7-0, over Greece.
• There will be no punishment for the Iranian Judo champion who was disqualified.
• The U.S. men's sabre team loses on the final touch twice, just missing a medal.
• The U.S. men's water polo team suffers its first loss.
• A Greek crew wins the first sailing gold of the Games.
_____ More From The Post _____
• Sally Jenkins: Give the USA basketball team a break.
• Michael Wilbon: Any sport with judging will have accusations, allegations and denials.
• After over a billion dollars were spent on security, the only disruptions so far are trivial.
• There is little, it seems, that does not excite Kenyan Bernard Lagat.
_____ On Our Site _____
• Athens Snippets: NBC is the Greek God of Time.
___ Thursday's Medals Results ___
Archery
• Men's individual
• Women's singles
Fencing
• Men's team sabre
Gymnastics (Artistic)
• Women's individual all-around
Judo
• Men's 100kg
• Women's 78kg
Shooting
• Men's 10-meter running target
Swimming
• Women's 200 breastroke
• Men's 200 backstroke
• Women's 100 freestyle
• Men's 200 individual medley
Weightlifting
• Women's 69kg
• Men's 77kg
_____ Multimedia _____
• Audio: Liz Clarke on gymnastics.
• Audio: Mike Ruane on Phelps.
• Audio: Paul Hamm's run to gold.
_____ Photos _____
• Day 7
• Photo galleries page
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After opening with a five-set loss to the Netherlands, Russia has won two straight. The United States fell to 1-2.
Russia took its first lead of the fourth set at 14-13, and things went back and forth until Alexey Kuleshov blocked a kill attempt to make it 24-22.
The Americans were only able to fend off match point once. Fittingly, the 7-foot-1 Dineykin ended it with a kill that bounced off Lloy Ball.
"Both teams played very well, but we made less mistakes," Dineykin said.
That's exactly how the Russians succeed.
It's not quite the same, years after the Cold War, but these teams have created one of the sport's classic rivalries. This is already their sixth meeting since the end of June, with Russia winning three of five during a summer exhibition tour in Texas.
Still, the Americans have been playing well in the Games -- erasing the memory of a winless tournament in 2000.
