USA volleyball sweeps Japan in FIVB World Grand Prix match

LONG BEACH >> Long Beach State’s Walter Pyramid is a few thousand miles away from Rio and it’s still more than a month until Brazil will host the 2016 Olympic Summer Games, but Saturday night’s match between the USA and Japan women’s volleyball teams had the feel of an Olympic medal match. Before a roaring capacity crowd, the No. 1 USA team elevated its game for an impressive sweep of No. 5 Japan, 25-16, 25-23, 25-21.

The USA improved to 2-0 in the FIVB World Grand Prix; Pool E of the WGP is taking place this weekend in the Pyramid.

“We love playing Japan, they’re a legendary program,” said head USA coach Karch Kiraly. “They fight with such heart, they never give up. And so we know we always have to be ready to play them.”

The USA beat Germany in four sets to open WGP play on Friday, but Kiraly wasn’t pleased with his team’s performance, pointing to the fact that he didn’t put his players in a hotel for their usual touament routine.

“We had players coming from their apartments after sleeping in their own beds,” he said. “You’re always going to get a better rest in your own bed, but with that comes a responsibility to prepare and be ready.”

Saturday, in front of a loud and rowdy crowd, the Americans looked much sharper. The USA led wire-to-wire in the first frame, going up 16-4 and taking the set somewhat anticlimactically on a video review of a block touch by Japan. In the second set, the teams traded the lead and Japan looked to even it up after taking a 23-22 lead. But the USA got kills from Kimberly Hill and a big spike from middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo to close it out. Once again in the third, the teams were tied at 21 before the USA pulled away with kills from Kelly Murphy and Jordan Larson to take the match and remain undefeated.

Akinradewo had 12 kills to lead the USA, backed up by 11 from Hill. Miyu Nagaoka led Japan with 16 kills. The USA outblocked Japan 9-2.

Kiraly said the crowd was a nice treat for his team, as well as helpful in preparing for the volleyball-crazy Brazilian culture.

“We’ve never hosted an FIVB touament in Southe Califoia,” he said. “It’s great, a lot of our players have friends and family here, and this crowd was something special.”

The USA will wrap up Pool E play with a 5:10 p.m. match against Turkey today back in the Pyramid. It’s then a quick tuaround with a Monday moing flight to China for Pool H, along with Germany, the Netherlands, and the host Chinese. Should the USA advance to the World Grand Prix championships, they’ll be held July 6-10 in Thailand.

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