A wild comeback lifted the United States from the brink of defeat against an inspired Greek team, putting the Americans in the semifinals for the first time in 12 years.
Kevin Barnett scored 20 points and Reid Priddy added 16 to lead the United States back from a 2-1 set deficit and a huge hole in the fourth set, then a match point in the fifth.
Ryan Millar, left, Reid Priddy and Lloy Ball form a wall in the U.S.'s wild win.
(Greg Baker -- AP)
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The victory -- 25-20, 22-25, 25-27, 25-23, 17-15 -- guarantees the Americans a spot in one of the medal games for the first time since they earned a bronze in 1992. On Friday, the U.S. team will face Brazil, which swept Poland, 25-22, 27-25, 25-18.
All appeared lost for the United States when it went down 2 sets to 1 and fell behind 8-1 to begin the fourth set. When the score reached 20-12 in favor of the Greeks, the Americans wore the blank expressions of players just five points from elimination.
But Ryan Millar's kill fueled an amazing rally that Barnett capped with a spike on set point.
Greece took a 14-13 lead in the final set. But Antrej Kravarik's serve landed wide, and U.S. backup setter Donald Suxho -- faking a pass at the net -- flipped the ball into the Greek backcourt to give the Americans a 15-14 lead.
Ryan Millar's kill made it 16-15. When Sotirios Pantaleon's spike attempt missed on U.S. match point, the Americans celebrated and the Greek players looked on in agony.
