SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- Cuba swept the United States in the Pan American Games semifinals of women's volleyball, using a powerful attack the Americans could not match.

Cuba seldom trailed, en route to a 25-19, 25-19, 25-21 win on Thursday night.

Spurred on by a raucous crowd, the Dominican Republic upset Brazil 25-18, 23-25, 23-25, 25-14, 15-13 in the other semifinal.

The highly ranked Cubans, who had a slight height advantage over the U.S. team, mixed up their attack, sometimes using cross-court passes to set up a spike, and other times using short sets for the kills. Regardless of the approach, Cuba, the three-time defending Olympic gold medalist playing with its top team, was too strong and experienced for the United States, which sent its 'B' team to the games.

"The organization of their attack is the best we've seen from anybody," coach Mike Hebert of Arizona said.

The U.S. team, a squad comprised of national team players, collegiate All-Americans and one high school star, tied the first set 18-18, but Cuba stormed away. Although the Americans had some spurts of solid play, they were overmatched for much of the rest of the night.

"We started making a lot of unforced errors, giving up points when we should have kept the ball in play," said U.S. captain Wiz Bachman of Lakeville, Minn.

The Americans committed 25 errors to Cuba's 17.

Facing a team as strong and fast as Cuba, the Americans were forced to take more risks on their serves. Although this did result in five aces, including two each from Bachman and Erin Aldrich of Dallas, it cost the Americans in the second set, when three straight service errors allowed the Cubans to open up a lead that they would not relinquish.

"I wasn't upset with that," Hebert said of the service errors.

In the third set, Team USA led 5-4, but Cuba answered with four straight points. The Americans tied it at 12, but the Cuban attack was too much and Cuba pulled away.

"It was a hard-fought match, but we managed to get the win," Cuba coach Luis Calderon said. "Now we are going for the gold."

Liana Mesa led the Cubans with 14 points, including nine spikes. The leading scorer for the United States was Ogonna Nnamani of Normal, Ill., a Stanford junior, who had 13 points.

Cuba will face the host Dominicans in the gold medal match on Saturday. The Americans will play Brazil for the bronze.