Japan was overpowered by defending Olympic champion Brazil 3-0 in the women's volleyball semifinals Thursday and will play South Korea for its first medal since the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.
Japan went down 25-18, 25-15, 25-18 to Brazil, which will face the United States in the final. South Korea lost to the U.S. in straight sets 25-20, 25-22, 25-22 in the first semifinal.
Both the final and the third-place match are Saturday.
Saori Kimura led Japan with 14 points. Fabiana Claudino and Sheilla Castro had 13 points apiece for Brazil.
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