OLYMPICS / Barcelona 1992: Americans are spiked: Olympic Round-up

(First Edition)

THE UNITED STATES' hopes of a third successive volleyball gold medal were dented yesterday, but not on the court. They thought they had beaten Japan in a tough five-set opener on Sunday, but the International Volleyball Federation overturned the result.

The Japanese protested at a refereeing decision when they had a match point in the fourth set and spiker Bob Samuelson shouted at a linesman. He was given his second yellow card of the match, but the Japanese said it should have been red, which would also have given them the point and the match. After a four-meeting yesterday, the IVF agreed.