The second-ranked U.S women’s national volleyball team used a 10-1 block advantage and 7-2 margin in aces to defeat No. 6 Japan 25-23, 25-16, 23-25, 25-23 in Yokohama, Japan, on Friday to finish in fifth place in the FIVB World Championship.
The U.S. had balanced scoring with five players reaching double-figure scoring led by Kim Hill, who scored a match-high 25 points to lead the Americans.
Team USA, which lost two heart-breaking five-set matches in the third round pool play to fall out of the World Championship title chase, snapped a four-match losing streak. The Americans finished 8-4 in the world championship, and ends the 2018 season with a 34-8 record.