By Toby Davis

LONDON (Reuters) - Russia proved the oldest sporting adage that its never over until the scoreboard says so as their men's volleyball team came back from the brink to snatch Olympic gold and spoil Brazil's party at the London Games on Sunday.

LONDON (Reuters) - Russia beat Brazil to win the Olympic men's volleyball gold medal on Sunday, fighting back from the brink of a straight-sets defeat to take the decider and seal a 3-2 victory.

Having lost the first two sets, Russia twice found themselves a match point down in the third but roared back to claim their first gold in the event for 32 years 19-25 20-25 29-27 25-22 15-9.

LONDON (Reuters) - Italy beat Bulgaria 3-1 to win the Olympic men's volleyball bronze on Sunday, their fourth volleyball medal in the last five Games.

Captain Cristian Savani top scored for Italy with 23 points in a 25-19 23-25 25-22 25-21 victory.

By Estelle Shirbon

LONDON (Reuters) - The top headline in beach volleyball at the 2012 London Games was the third straight Olympic title won by the U.S. women's pair, but the big picture was about a changing of the guard.

By Martyn Herman

LONDON (Reuters) - Brazil's women produced a dazzling comeback to win Olympic volleyball gold on Saturday, prompting a sneak preview of what life might be like in Rio de Janeiro in four years time.

By Toby Davis

LONDON (Reuters) - After successive defeats in Olympic finals, Saturday represented the end of an era for the United States women's volleyball team who are set for sweeping changes before they begin their campaign in Rio in four years time.

By Toby Davis

LONDON (Reuters) - Brazil survived a shaky start to upset the United States and retain the Olympic women's volleyball title they won four years ago in Beijing.

LONDON (Reuters) - Brazil survived a shaky start to upset the United States and retain the Olympic women's volleyball title they won four years ago in Beijing.

The U.S.7, ranked number one in the world, handed their opponents a volleyball schooling in the first set, but Brazil, who saved six match points in their quarter-final against Russia, kept their composure to turn the match on its head.

By Toby Davis

LONDON (Reuters) - Latin flair will meet Eastern European steel in the Olympic men's volleyball final as Brazil and Russia both won their semi-final encounters on Friday to set up a gold-medal showdown between the two top-ranked teams.

LONDON (Reuters) - Brazil reached their third straight Olympic men's volleyball final as they romped past Italy 3-0 on Friday.

The world's top ranked team, who won gold in Athens before picking up silver in Beijing, will face Russia on Sunday after demolishing their semi-final opponents 25-21 25-12 25-21 in front of a raucous crowd at Earls Court.

LONDON (Reuters) - Russia reached the Olympic men's volleyball final with a testing 3-1 win over underdogs Bulgaria on Friday to keep alive their hopes of winning gold in the event for the first time since 1980.

Russia, ranked second in the world, had too much raw power for the slighter and more nimble Bulgarians and despite slipping up in the third set, edged their semi-final clash 25-21 25-15 23-25 25-23 at Earls Court.

LONDON (Reuters) - Russia reached the Olympic men's volleyball final with a testing 3-1 win over underdogs Bulgaria on Friday to keep alive their hopes of winning gold in the event for the first time since 1980.

Russia, ranked second in the world, had too much raw power for the slighter and more nimble Bulgarians and despite slipping up in the third set, edged their semi-final clash 25-21 25-15 23-25 25-23 at Earls Court.

By Estelle Shirbon

LONDON (Reuters) - Germans Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann won Olympic gold in the men's beach volleyball by beating Brazilians Emanuel Rego and Alison Cerutti by 23-21 16-21 16-14 in the final on Thursday, becoming the first European team to claim the title.

By Estelle Shirbon

LONDON (Reuters) - Germans Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann won Olympic gold in the men's beach volleyball by beating Brazilians Emanuel Rego and Alison Cerutti 23-21 16-21 16-14, becoming the first European team to claim the title.

By Estelle Shirbon

LONDON (Reuters) - Latvians Martins Plavins and Janis Smedins won bronze in the men's beach volleyball on Thursday by beating Dutchmen Richard Schuil and Reinder Nummerdor, a surprise result for the Baltic state emerging as an unlikely force in the sport.

By Martyn Herman

LONDON (Reuters) - Destinee Hooker could have competed at the London Olympics in high jump or even basketball. Luckily for her U.S. team mates, the 24-year-old chose volleyball.