Quartet eye medals

South Korea, Brazil, the USA and Japan all progress

Last Updated: August 8, 2012 6:49am

South Korea celebrate their quarter-final success

Europe's involvement in the women's volleyball competition is over after South Korea and Brazil joined the USA and Japan in the semi-finals.

South Korea needed four sets to beat Italians, while Brazil's clash with Russia went right to the wire before the South Americans claimed a five-set win.

Russia, the world champions, had been unbeaten throughout 2012, but they were eventually edged out 24-26 25-22 19-25 25-22 21-19 by the defending champions.

South Korea, who saw the faultless Kim Yeon-koung score 28 points against the Italians, will now face the United States in the last four, with Japan awaiting Brazil.

The Americans were convincing 3-0 winners over the Dominican Republic, while Japan dug in to topple China in five sets.