BEIJING — They miss the man, but not the coach.

The U.S. men's volleyball team was again without its head coach, Hugh McCutcheon, who was with his wife and family after his father-in-law was killed and his mother-in-law critically injured three days ago at a popular Chinese tourist attraction.

But the U.S. team won its second game without him Tuesday, this time in four sets 24-26, 25-22, 25-15, 25-21 against Italy. The 2-0 start and seemingly seamless transition to assistant coach Ron Larsen speaks to McCutcheon's strengths as a coach, his players said.

"His significant fingerprint on this team is our ability to operate as if he was here," said outside hitter Riley Salmon, who had eight kills and an ace in the win. "The coaching staff has got that all down. They're just giving us information. It's as if he's here."

The players have had no direct contact with McCutcheon, only receiving daily messages from him, sent through a team assistant.

The latest update on Barbara Bachman, McCutcheon's mother-in-law, is that she was upgraded from critical to serious condition.

"We're just praying for a full recovery, and that was great news — especially after not hearing anything for 48 hours," outside hitter Reid Priddy said.

Priddy said players haven't taken it upon themselves to take over huddles or take on any added responsibilities with McCutcheon away.

After a difficult ending to the first set, which featured a near U.S. comeback from trailing 14-18, setter Lloy Ball could be seen leading the conversation in the huddle. But it's no more than what the 36-year-old Ball, a four-time Olympian, normally offers to the team.

McCutcheon's style during his four-year stint as U.S. coach has been to leave a lot of decisions on his players' shoulders, which has benefited a veteran American team.

"He lets us do what we want to do," Salmon said. "He lets us play ... to our strength. He doesn't try to correct the things that we do well. He's a very, very good player's coach."

Right-side hitter Clay Stanley led the U.S. team, which won its opening match against Venezuela in five sets, with 19 kills, three blocks and an ace. Priddy, who has been struggling with a ruptured knuckle on his right pinkie, added 18 kills with a .419 hitting percentage.

"When we win, it's because we play together as a team," Priddy said. "Today, I started off, offensively, a bit flat. But my team has stuck with me and we started getting some momentum. Everyone's waiting for me to contribute. It was great to finally be able to do that."

The U.S. team, which has experienced its share of in-house bickering in the past, has experienced none of that lately. And McCutcheon's tragic family situation has only strengthened that unity.

"After something so tragic and so sudden, it makes you think of others," middle blocker Tom Hoff said. "You're not concerned with yourself."

Larsen, an assistant since McCutcheon took over the U.S. team four years ago, expects McCutcheon to concern himself strictly with family. That could mean McCutcheon doesn't coach a single game in these Olympics.

Up next for the third-ranked Americans are the Bulgarians, ranked fourth in the world and the toughest test so far.

"We would not even ask Hugh to worry about game plans right now," Larsen said. "We all want him to get back for these Games, but we're not sure if he'll be able to do that.

"We want him to just feel free to do what he needs to do. His family is first and foremost, and he's doing a great job with that."