US Olympic Volleyball Team 2012: Americans Who Will Shine Bright vs. Brazil

Defeating a team as talented as Brazil once is a difficult challenge. Try doing it twice.

The United States of America will attempt to defeat Brazil for the second time this Olympics when they lock horns Saturday, Aug. 11, in the 2012 Summer Olympics gold medal game for Women's Volleyball.

If the United States are going to win gold this year, these three stars will shine bright under the lights:

Destinee Hooker

Destinee Hooker is putting her name in the history books at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She has been involved in plenty of the action and she leads the Olympics in spike efficiency with 38.91 percent. 

Hooker has 123 spikes in the tournament and she has 147 total points scored.

The United States are very balanced from top to bottom, but Hooker's ability to finish points will be needed in the gold-medal game. 

Lindsey Berg

Setting isn't necessarily an art that garners attention from fans watching across the world, but Berg will play a major role in the outcome of this contest. Berg has recorded 228 sets and is averaging nine per game.

Berg will feed Hooker for several spike opportunities. These two will feed off each other, and Hooker's performance will be based mostly off Berg and the other setters on the team. 

Foluke Akinradewo

Blockers need to get respect, too. Hooker is a great blocker and Foluke Akinradewo leads the way for the Americans in that category. 

Brazil will be a tough challenge on the net, but Akinradewo has what it takes to go toe-to-toe up front, whether that be challenges at the net or blocking the opponent.

Prediction 

United States will win the gold medal in five sets.