China's Ding Xia competes during the women's volleyball preliminary pool B between China and the United States at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 14, 2016. The United States won China with 3:1. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)
The United States advanced into the quarterfinal of the women's volleyball at Rio 2016 Olympic Games after a 3-1 win over China on Sunday.
The Americans clinched pole position in Pool B with an undefeated 5-0 win-loss record after beating China 22-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-19. The 2015 World Cup winner China ranked fourth in the pool with 2-3.
As the top ranked team in Pool B, the United States will play either Japan or Argentina in the quarterfinals next Tuesday while China will face the winner of the match between Brazil and Russia.
"I am anticipating that Japan will be our quarterfinal opponent," said Karch Kiraly, the headcoach of the United States, "Japan knows us well and we know them well. It has been nerver ever easy to against Japan. They are the world best defense team. They are well coached and play very good volleyball techniquely. They play with high spirit which I am admired mostly."
Jordan Larson-Burbach scored 18 points for the United States, followed by Foluke Akinradewo and Kelly Murphy with 15 and 13 points, respectively.
China's Zhu Ting had a match-high 23 points and Hui Ruoqi finished with 14, including three blocks and two aces, but there is no other Chinese players who can reach the double digit during the one hour and 42 minutes match.
"The United States is a very strong team," said China's head coach Lang Ping, "But I think we played pretty good. Despite the loss, I see the potentials of my players."
China came out fiercely in the opening set, Hui Ruoqi blocked Akinradewo for a two-point lead and the Chinese stayed in front the rest of the way by wide margin.
The United States, who won the 2014 World Championship, came back strongly in the second set. Akinradewo gave the United States a 5-2 advantage and the Americans won the set easily.
The following two sets were much easier for the Americans, as they led from the start and cruised to a comfortable win in the third. The United States led by as many as eight points in the fourth but China closed in at 15-13. Akinradewo landed a spike and Murphy served an ace to restore the order.
"We could not follow the steps of the Americans in the fourth set," said Lang, "We made too many mistakes in the last set. But the loss of the match won't change anything, we still enter the quarterfinals ranked fourth. This is a good lesson for the young players."
"We will face either Brazil or Russia in the next match, they are both strong teams. But if we want to advance into the top four, we have to play our best and I don't want to loss too much," added Lang.
