The U.S. men’s volleyball team was eliminated by Italy in an Olympic quarterfinal match, ending its chances for a second straight gold medal.

The U.S., which went 4-1 in qualifying play and reached the knockout stage as the top seed from its group, was upset by Italy 28-26, 25-20, 25-20 in London. Italy advances to face the 2008 silver medalist, Brazil, in the semifinals.

Brazil, which won gold medals in 1992 and 2004, beat Argentina 25-19, 25-17, 25-20 to win its quarterfinal match.

At the 2008 Olympics, the U.S. beat Brazil for its first gold medal in men’s volleyball in 20 years. The victory, on the final day of the Beijing Games, came 15 days after the father- in-law of then-coach Hugh McCutcheon was stabbed to death while visiting a tourist site in the city with his wife and daughter.

Italy’s team took the silver medal at the 1996 and 2004 Olympics, and the bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Games.

To contact the reporter on this story: Erik Matuszewski in New York at matuszewski@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net