USA women defeat Japan to begin Volley Masters

by Paul Soriano USA Volleyball Manager, Media Relations & Publications

Nancy Metcalf scored a match-high 22 points and Ogonna Nnamani added 18 to lead four players in double figures as the USA women's national volleyball team opened play at the Montreux Volley Masters with a 3-1 win over Japan on Tuesday night in Montreaux, Switzerland.

Metcalf (Hull, Iowa) blasted 19 kills to go along with two blocks and one service ace in the 25-27, 25-22, 25-17, 25-15 victory as the United States improved to 1-0 in Pool B.

Nnamani (Normal, Ill.) had 18 kills and a hitting percentage of .552 as Team USA rebounded from a set down to pull out the win.

Keba Phipps (Las Vegas, Nev.) scored 17 points on 14 kills and three blocks while Danielle Scott (Baton Rouge, La.) added 10 points on a match-high six blocks and four kills for the United States, the No. 2-ranked team in the world.

Wiz Bachman (Lakeville, Minn.) added five points, Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif.) had three points and setter Robyn Ah Mow-Santos (Honolulu, Hawaii) added two points and a team-high 13 digs as Team USA improved to 3-3 on the season.

Kana Oyama scored a team-high 19 points on 15 kills, three blocks and one ace to lead Japan.

In other opening-day action, Russia swept Germany in Pool A and Italy swept Poland in Pool B. China and Cuba both begin play on Wednesday.

2004 Montreux Volley Masters Standings

Pool A Russia (1-0) China (0-0) Cuba (0-0) Germany (0-1)

Pool B Italy (1-0) USA (1-0) Japan (0-1) Poland (0-1)

Tuesday's Results

Pool A Russia def. Germany, 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-12)

Pool B Italy def. Poland, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-21) USA def. Japan, 3-1 (25-27, 25-22, 25-17, 25-15)

Wednesday's Schedule

Pool A China vs. Germany, 11 a.m. Cuba vs. Russia, 3 p.m.

Pool B Poland vs. USA, 1 p.m.

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