Rival Brazil to play here

The world’s eyes are on Brazil for the next four weeks as the Copa do Mundial is played out on futebol’s largest pitch.

Two years from now, it will be the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, the first time the global competition is held in South America.

Seeing a theme here? The U.S. women’s volleyball team does … and has for all but one Olympic Games since 1984. Particularly when it comes to the medal round.

Not since the 1992 bronze-medal match have the Americans defeated the Brazilians after pool play, going 0-for-4 when facing the Canarinhas. The past two Olympics have pitted Nos. 1 and 2 for the gold; Brazil has won both, including a 3-1 upset of the top-ranked U.S. two years ago at Earls Court.

The rivalry continues next month with the USA Volleyball Cup, a four-match series with two contests in California and the last at the Stan Sheriff Center. U.S. coach Karch Kiraly is ready.

"Coming to Honolulu made perfect sense," said Kiraly, moving up from the assistant’s position after the London Games. "The people there follow the Rainbow Wahine and the Warriors with a passion. They are fanatical about the sports and I love to be around that.

"What’s not to like? No. 1 vs. No. 2 in one of my favorite places, Hawaii."

Kiraly remained at the American Sports Center in Anaheim, Calif., while the team traveled to Mexico City for the Women’s Pan American Cup. The depth — of both roster and coaching staff — affords the luxury of development with the U.S. 4-0 in pool play under Jamie Morrison heading into Monday’s knockout round.

"It happens to be a younger group there; we are developing as much depth as possible" Kiraly said. "In our last competition (second to Germany in Montreaux Volley Masters), both us and Brazil (finished fifth) had younger teams. Of our 14, five had never played for our senior team.

"We also have some people dinged up physically. They don’t have to rush their rehab to get back. They’re working to get healthy."

One of those players is Kalani graduate Tamari Miyashiro, a libero used as a serving specialist at the 2012 Olympics. She had surgery in March to repair a herniated disc and was cleared to start practicing just last Wednesday.

Whether she is on the roster next month is an unknown. Kiraly said he wouldn’t decide on the roster until just before the first match on July 5 at UC Irvine’s Bren Events Center.

"I’m pretty sure that our roster won’t be the same, match to match, like we did last year with the USA Cup with Japan," he said.

Kiraly, who won three NCAA titles playing for UCLA, was named the greatest player of the 20th century by the FIVB. He is the only person to have won Olympic gold medals indoors (1984, ’88) and on the beach (1996).

The transition from star to coach hasn’t always been easy or successful for great athletes. The 53-year-old wants to be an exception.

"I’ve enjoyed coaching more than I thought I would," said Kiraly, whose involvement with USA Volleyball started at age 16 when he played for the junior national team. "It’s a beast of a job, a ton of hard work with some incredibly painful losses.

"The best part is working with 30 athletes who are the greatest masters of their craft."

The U.S. women have never won an Olympic gold medal in the 50 years the sport has been a part of the Games, with a bronze (1992) and three silvers (1984, 2008, ’12). Winning a gold "is always a priority," he said. "Someday the women will do it. Whether it happens two years or 100 years from now.

"I’d like to help make it happen sooner than later, but we’re going to have to be better than we’ve ever been. Everyone knows that whoever wins that gold medal will have to go through Brazil."

That route includes rare stops in the U.S.

"It’s great to be playing on U.S. soil," Kiraly said. "Until last year (USA Cup), most of our players had never played in front of sold-out crowds supporting them. We are acclimated to playing in front of fans cheering for the other team.

"(Next month), we are playing in great venues — the Bren at UCI, the Galen Center at USC and in Hawaii — places that appreciate the sport at the highest level. Last year, it was No. 3 Japan. This year, it’s No. 1 Brazil, the team that has eliminated us the past four Olympics, the last two for the gold. For fans of the sport, it doesn’t get any better."