Volleyball: U.S. down China, world champions Serbia beat Japan

By Toshiki Hashimoto

The United States dealt China a second consecutive straight sets defeat in women’s volleyball on Tuesday to leave the defending Olympic champions in danger of missing out on the knockout stages.

The Americans, bronze medallists at Rio in 2016, have won five Olympic medals in the event but never gold. Their 29-27 25-22 25-21 victory moved them to the top of Pool B without dropping a set, having beaten Argentina in their opener.

Jordan Thompson, the Americans’ 24-year-old opposite hitter who is competing in her first Games, impressed again, top-scoring with 34 points to set a Tokyo 2020 record.

“We wanted to serve tough and stick with a solid block setup. We tried to have a short memory when we made mistakes or China made a great kill,” Thompson, who also made four blocks and hit two aces, said.

“China is a legendary team with some of the best players in the world. They pushed us, they’ll be back.”

China, who were stunned in straight sets by Turkey in their first match, are fifth in Pool B without a point. Only the top four qualify for the quarter-finals.

Coach Lang Ping said the players were “nervous”, adding that skipper and top scorer Zhu Ting (18 points) was playing with a problem in her wrist.

U.S. coach Karch Kiraly said: “There’s tape on her wrist and people say there is something going on but we can’t worry about that. She’s the bedrock of China’s team.”

Italy beat Turkey 25-22 23-25 25-20 25-15 to move above them and sit second behind the U.S. after Paola Egonu top-scored again with 29 points.

“I’m happy because it could have been worse. The set we won can be useful for the next match against USA,” Turkey’s Italian coach Giovanni Guidetti said.

Reigning world champions Serbia leapfrogged Japan to top Pool A after beating the hosts 25-23 25-16 26-24 with Tijana Boskovic matching Thompson’s 34 points.

Boskovic’s spikes on crucial points when the scores were tied late in the first and third sets proved to be the difference, while Serbia also made 11 blocks.

“Japan played great defense. Our defense was pretty good too but we can do even better,” Boskovic said.

Earlier, the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) team claimed their first win in Tokyo with a 25-19 25-15 25-13 victory over bottom side Argentina, with Nataliya Goncharova scoring 17 points and making four blocks.

Brazil were given a scare by the Dominican Republic who stretched them to five sets but five Brazilians, led by Fernanda Rodrigues (26 points), finished in double figures in a 22-25 25-17 25-13 23-25 15-12 victory to move second in Pool A.

Reuters