SYDNEY, Australia (AP) _ The U.S. women's volleyball team got what it came for _ a chance to play for a medal.

The next step is being able to beat the best teams in the world, instead of just staying in the same gym with them.

The United States gained valuable confidence even in losing its first match of the Olympics, 25-17, 20-25, 25-15, 25-15 to Brazil on Sunday (Saturday night EDT).

Although they've exceeded everyone's expectations by finishing second in Group A, the players were disappointed they didn't put up more of a fight.

"One game is a low expectation," said middle blocker Danielle Scott. "We expect to win, so I think we want to play a little bit better than we did. We'll be satisfied after we win a medal."

Heather Bown, who had seven kills and four blocks, cried after the loss, but acknowledged that the U.S. team is playing its best at the perfect time.

"We came in here with our focus, to remind ourselves every day what our purpose is here, and I think we've reached it," she said.

The U.S. team will enter the quarterfinals with a 4-1 record, and probably will play South Korea when the next round begins Tuesday (Monday night EDT).

"We got about what we wanted from this," U.S. coach Mick Haley said. "I'm not disappointed in this at all. I think our kids played hard."

Having lost five straight matches in major tournaments to the powerful Brazilians, the Americans didn't figure to have much of a chance this time.

But after getting blown out in the opening game, they got their blocking going with Scott, Sarah Noriega and Bown, shutting down star Brazilian hitters Leila Barros and Erika Coimbra to take a 10-5 lead in the second game.

The U.S. team pushed it to 20-12 and got to game point before faltering. Brazil scored five straight points to get to 24-20, but Robyn Ah Mow set up Logan Tom perfectly for a slam down the middle to square the match.

The Americans led 6-4 to start the third, but Brazil went on a 10-2 spurt and the U.S. team didn't recover. The closest the United States got in the fourth was 15-13.

"We learned a lot," said outside hitter Tara Cross-Battle. "I think it's better, if we're going to lose, to get our loss in now, because we can't lose anymore. And now the team knows what it feels like to lose, so they can focus on getting to the semifinals."

The United States didn't lead at all in the first game, but it wasn't blown out, either. When Cross-Battle and Scott teamed up on two emphatic stuff blocks, Brazil had only a 20-16 lead. The Brazilians then scored five of the next six points to win the opener.

"If we're both fortunate to meet in the gold medal match, then it's going to be a good one," Cross-Battle said.

Brazil and the Americans should have easy quarterfinal matches, setting up a terrific final four with them, Cuba and Russia.

Brazil coach Bernardo Rezende said Sunday's result wasn't that important "because both of the teams wanted to avoid Cuba and Russia, and that did not change in this match."

In the quarterfinals, Brazil will face Germany, which stunned Italy in four games Sunday.

In other action, Croatia clinched the No. 3 spot from Group A by defeating Kenya.

(Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)