Colorado Springs, CO - The USA Women's National Volleyball Team earnedits first victory since qualifying for the Sydney Olympics with a 23-25,25-20, 18-25, 25-16, 15-13 victory over No. 7 Japan tonight in front of3,935 fans at the Colorado Springs World Arena. The two-hour-and-15-minutewin moved the Americans series record against Japan to 1-2 on the currenttour.
Outside hitter Demetria Sance finished with a career-high 17 kills and 21digs. Sarah Noriega added 13 and Heather Bown recorded 12 kills. LiberoStacy Sykora had a great match with 22 digs and a passing average of 2.80.
"I think the difference tonight for us was our solid passing and hitting,"Sykora said. "We did not make as many mistakes as we did in the last twomatches and we capitalized on our opportunities when it mattered."
The two teams came out even in the first set, before strong hitting byHitomi Mitsunaga gave the Japanese the lead at 11-7. Team USA never gotwithin more than two points in the set as Chikako Kumamae finished with herfourth kill. Mitsunaga ended the set with 10 kills for the Japanese. TeamUSA rebounded quickly in the second set to take a 9-1 lead. The Americansallowed Japan to close within five at 22-17, but a pair of kills by LoganTomhelped the U.S. finish the game. Japan quickly grabbed the momentum back inthe third set and never trailed. The fourth set was just the opposite, assetter Robyn Ah Mow sparked the American offense to an easy victory. Sancecaught fire in the fourth set recording seven kills. She did not let up inthe fifth set as the team traded points until an Ah Mow block gave the U.S.match point at 14-12. A quick kill by Ikumi Ogake gave the Japanese theserve at 14-13, but Sance's 17th and final kill sealed the victory.
"It is a great feeling to finally earn a win against a quality Japaneseteam," Head Coach Mick Haley said. "We know that we can compete at a highlevel, and if we continue to improve we are confident that we will make animpact at the Olympics."