In a rematch of the top two teams in the world, the second-ranked U.S. women’s national volleyball team lost its second match to top-ranked China in four days, this time a 25-22, 19-25, 20-25, 25-23, 15-9 setback to open the FIVB World Championship third round Pool H opener on Sunday in Nagoya, Japan.
Team USA was close to victory in both the first and fourth sets in which it lost. The Americans led 19-16 in the opening set before yielding a 6-1 run to China. In the fourth set, the U.S. overcame a 17-12 deficit to tie the set at 22, but could not get over the hump to win the set and match.