USA women defeat Japan, remain undefeated at World Cup

by Paul Soriano USA Volleyball Manager, Public Relations & Publications

Playing in front of more than 8,000 boisterous fans against host Japan, it was business as usual for the USA women's national volleyball team at the World Cup: another match, another victory.

Logan Tom scored a match-high 16 points and Keba Phipps added 13 as the United States remained unbeaten at the World Cup with a 3-0 win over Japan in second-round action at Nagoya Rainbow Hall in Nagyoa, Japan, Thursday night (early Thursday morning in the United States).

Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah) had 12 kills, a match-high-tying three blocks and one service ace in the 25-15, 25-22, 25-19 victory for Team USA, which has won its first five matches at the first Olympic qualifier of the quadrennial.

The top three teams at the 12-team, two-week, round-robin tournament earn automatic bids to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Phipps (Las Vegas, Nev.) added nine kills, three blocks and one ace as the world's top-ranked team, the United States, joined No. 2 China (5-0) as the only other unbeaten team in the tournament.

Danielle Scott (Baton Rouge, La.) scored nine points, Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif.) added eight points and Tayyiba Haneef (Laguna Hills, Calif.) chipped in with seven points as the United States improved its overall season record to 26-12.

For the fifth time in five matches, the United States outblocked its opponent, this time by an overwhelming 11-1 advantage. Through the first two rounds, Team USA holds a commanding 49-24 edge in blocking. The team also posted its fourth-straight sweep after winning the first match of the World Cup over Korea in five sets.

Kana Oyama scored 12 points and Sachiko Sugiyama added nine to lead Japan, which suffered its second straight loss after winning its first three matches in Tokyo.

In other action on Thursday, a day that featured sweeps in five of the six matches, Korea routed Egypt, Italy downed Argentina, China beat Poland, Turkey defeated the Dominican Republic and Brazil edged Cuba in five sets.

The tournament field now has a day off for travel as it prepares for the next round.

In the third round (Nov. 8-10) the United States battles Poland, Turkey and the Dominican Republic in Sapporo, Japan. In the fourth and final round (Nov. 13-15), Team USA squares off against China, Brazil and four-time defending World Cup champion Cuba (1989, 1991, 1995 and 1999) in Osaka.

2003 Women's World Cup Standings

China (5-0) USA (5-0) Italy (4-1) Brazil (4-1) Japan (3-2) Korea (2-3) Cuba (2-3) Turkey (2-3) Dominican Republic (1-4) Poland (1-4) Argentina (1-4) Egypt (0-5)

For more information, go to the USA Volleyball web site.