USA Beats China to Win First World Championship Crown
Leo J. Magpayo | | Oct 13, 2014 07:40 AM EDT |
Team USA beat China to win their very first Gold medal at the FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship in Milan, Italy on Sunday.
It was a test of nerves in the first set as both teams would not let up on their serves and continuously attack the net to extend the it at 24 apiece but American Kimberly Hill went out on top to finish the set for the United States.
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USA continued their momentum in the second set as they led the Chinese squad mid-way but China coach Jenny Lang Ping substituted starting setter Qiuyue Wei with Jingsi Shen to change the pace and hopefully get some rhythm which helped as China leveled the set at 18-all.
A series of plays quickly turned things around for USA as they rallied five straight points through the efforts of team captain Harmotto Dietzen, Hill, Kelly Murphy and Foluke Akinradewo that gave them the lead 23-18 and ultimately the set.
Shen started the third set for China and proved to be helpful as she orchestrated plays to open up Chunlei Zeng who delivered with powerful cross court and down the line kills as they went on to lead the set at 16-10.
The Americans gained some ground at 20-15 but Lang Ping substituted star player Ting Zhu with Xizotong Liu and her strategy paid off as China went on to win the set at 25-16.
USA coach Karch Kiraly calmed his team after the third set that gave the US ladies a boost at the start of the fourth set as they utilized Jordan Quinn Larson-Burbach at the wing to give them a 15-11 advantage.
It was a battle of strategic minds at this point as Lang Ping called out plays to Shen which instantly produced results as Zhu overpowered American blockers to close the gap at 17-15 but Kiraly put Nicole Fawcett in that gave the United States back a four point lead.
China heroically came back after a timeout and produced seven consecutive block points to put them ahead at 22-19 but USA valiantly closed the deficit at 23-22 which preempted Lang Ping to call a timeout.
Hill responded with a huge attack to level the set after the timeout before Akinradewo gave the Americans a match point which China saved, however, USA came back with another match point opportunity which Hill hammered this time to end the match 27-25, 25-20, 16-25, 26-24.
Hill led the Americans in their win with 20 points and was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament while Chunlei Zeng top scored for China also with 20 points.
Zhu was named Best Outside Spiker while Alisha Glass was declared Best Setter.
"We came here to make history and we made it," coach Kiraly said. "It was a tough battle. I would like to congratulate Lang Ping and her team. They played a marvelous tournament."
TagsKelly Murphy, Kimberly Hill, Ting Zhu, Jenny Lang Ping, Karch Kiraly
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