Brazil expected to take the men's volleyball gold medal back home for the second time but Russia surprised everyone by pulling out a win on Aug. 12.

Russia won 3 out of 5 sets - 29-27, 25-22 and 15-9 - setting them up for a 3-2 win. Having a shaky start, they won three consecutive sets and blew Brazil away in set 5.

Russia won their first volleyball medal from the London Olympics on Sunday but Brazil outnumbers them with two wins. The gold medal is Russia's first for both pre- or post-Soviet Union; they won silver in 2000 and bronze medals in 2004 and 2008, according to NBC. On the other hand, the USSR won an Olympic medal at every Games it attended, including a gold in 1964, 1968 and 1980.

"I think that those people that did not believe in us, they turned their back and went away after the second set, but those who trusted, they are the most valuable," Team Russia's Sergey Tetyukhin told Reuters, reported by NBC. "I think we have shown our character."

Dmitriy Muserskiy performed the team's final spike. He served a total of 49 spikes in Sunday's game and he was also an integral part in Russia's semifinal win over Bulgaria, 3-1.

"I think their coach had a very good idea in placing Muserskiy in his position," Saatkamp told Reuters. "After that, it was just the game we played. I think that we weren't able to handle their spikes and that left us a bit anxious."

Watch a recap of the entire game here.

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London games