China, US keep winning streaks intact at FIVB Women's World Cup

YOKOHAMA, Japan - China and the United States both recorded their fourth successive wins at the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup on Wednesday. World champions Serbia defeated Argentina 3-1, as the South American side, along with Cameroon and Kenya, still await their first win of the tournament.

Zhu Ting, MVP of the last World Cup, kept her 20-plus scoring streak with 20 points, and Li Yingying added 11 in China's 25-19, 25-21, 25-19 victory over the Dominican Republic, for whom 21-year-old Jineiry Martinez top-scored.

"Our players have become more mature compared with last year's World Championship. They were able to keep their composure when faced with difficulties on court," said China coach Lang Ping.

The USA also won, with a 25-23, 25-18, 25-19 victory over the Netherlands extending their unbeaten record at the tournament.

Jordan Larson and Kelsey Robinson tied for a game-high 16 points for the Nations League champions, while Lonneke Sloetjes was the most prolific Dutch player with 10 points.

"We knew it would be tough today. The Netherlands are a great team. I think we got better as the match went on. I'm really proud of my team for staying in it and grinding through. It was an all-around team effort," captain Larson said after the match.

With the victory, the USA sits second in the table with 12 points, level on points with China who remains top with a superior set quotient. The Netherlands fell to third, three points behind the two leaders.

Elsewhere, Russia cruised to a 25-18, 29-27, 25-12 win over a South Korean side that rotated its starting line-up and benched Kim Yeon-koung, top scorer of the last World Cup. Nataliya Goncharova had a game-high 14 points for the winning side.

"We had strong attacks, good serves and blocks and I think that's why we were able to win today," Irina Koreleva told Xinhua after a game in which she managed three blocks.

Captain Ana Bjelica had 29 points to spearhead Serbia's 25-15, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23 triumph over Argentina. Jelena Blagojevic, returning from an injury she picked up at the European Championships, added 14. Daniela Bulaich Simian scored a team-high 16 points for Argentina.

"Before the game, we knew it would be a tough match because Argentina have good defense and blocking, and we were prepared for a longer game, and it was a really long game. I'm really happy some players who didn't play from the beginning came back. Blagojevic did a great job and gave us some opportunities in attack and defense," Bjelica said.

African teams Cameroon and Kenya remain winless at this year's World Cup, with Cameroon losing 25-17, 25-17, 25-20 to host nation Japan, while Kenya came up short against Brazil, going down 25-20, 25-17, 25-14.

The 12 participating teams will play their last match in Yokohama and Hamamatsu on Thursday before moving to Sapporo and Toyama on Sunday.