An astonishing 37 point haul from USA superstar Destinee Hooker helped the World Grand Prix champions to an amazing 3-2 (25-21, 31-29, 18-25, 19-25, 15-10) win over three-time champions China in the opening match of the fourth and final round of the FIVB Women’s World Cup in the Yoyogi Stadium on Wednesday.
The five set victory, the Americans’ eight win from nine matches in the tournament and sixth successive win over China - who have now played four 3-2 matches (three of them in defeat) - dating back to the 2008 World Grand Prix, sees the world No. 2 only collect two points to draw level on points with unbeaten leaders Italy, who have a game in hand, on 23 points.
Women’s World Cup Results/Standings, Match Info, Photos or Live Scoring
With Italy to play fourth placed Germany and still two matches remaining, the tournament title and Olympic qualification, which is on offer to the three medallists, is still up for grabs.
Supporting Hooker in her great scoring exploits, which would have been a World Cup record if the Dominican Republic’s Bethania De La Cruz de Pena hadn’t scored 42 points against Germany in the third round, were Heather Bown with 16 points and Foluke Akinradewo with 15. For China, who were celebrating the 30th anniversary of their first World Cup triumph, Hui Ruoqi led the way with 25 points.
The Americans were serving very well to start the match with aces from Logan Tom, Jordan Larson and Bown helping the side out to a four point lead early. China’s leading scorer in the tournament Hui countered with two attacks and a stubborn block for China keeping her side close. But spikes from Hooker (who had eight in the period) and Larson kept USA ahead 16-12, and they would extend that lead with a Akinradewo spike down the line to take control 22-15. China then rolled off a run of five straight to give USA a scare but Akinradewo remained composed, dropping two more bombs to help them finish 25-21.
China played a little better to open the second as Zhang Lei spiked off the wing for a score and followed up with an ace to give China a 16-13 edge. Another Bown ace and a drive from Akinradewo helped USA back within one before a key block by Bown on Zhang Lei tied it at 20-20. The teams fought hard for this period, with a Larson return surprising China giving USA set point at 24-23. But China, powered by Hui and Xu up front would keep this one going fighting for four set points of their own. The American’s fought them all off in a see-saw battle that saw them close it with a Hooker run-down keeping their set point alive, which was closed out by a Bown spike, 31-29.
In the third China’s Zhang Lei stepped up with two of her trademark running spikes from the wing to give her team a big lead at 13-8. Mid-set saw a flurry of errors from both sides until China’s Hui took charge again dropping an ace to go ahead by 18-12. They would hold to that cushion with Xu showing great awareness up front punching in a tip behind scrambling US defenders to make it 22-17. Yang would frustrate Larson on an impressive block to help China close it 25-18.
Dropping the third seemed to light a fire under the Americans as both Bown and Larson posted blocks on Yang early. Hooker was still on fire with five successful attacks including an ace to put her side up 8-4 but a clever tip at the next by Hui followed up by a Ma spike let China draw even at 12-12. China would take six of the next seven including consecutive attacks from Wang out wide to go up five. A back attack from Hooker drew the US back within two, but China’s Xu scored four consecutive points for her side down the stretch to help them take the fourth set 25-19.
Everyone was wondering if this would be another miracle comeback for China as the fifth got underway with leading scorers Hui and Hooker coming out swinging. Hooker gave her side an 8-7 edge with a great spike, one of an astounding nine points in the final set. Bown would step into the closer role with a smart put-away into the back court, followed by an incredible block on China’s Hui to take the set 15-10, and the match.
