WARSAW, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Poland's women's volleyball team on Wednesday took a massive victory over the United States in three sets 25-23, 25-20, 25-18 at the 2022 FIVB Women's World Championship on home ground in Lodz.
The co-hosts of the tournament returned to winning ways after having lost to reigning champions Serbia. Olympic champion the United States started well to lead 8-3 at the first technical break, after an efficient spike by middle blocker Haleigh Washington.
Karch Kiraly's team had a few points' advantage (17-13), but then Poland pocketed four points in a row to level the score, as Danielle Cuttino missed the line, while Alexandra Frantti was blocked by the Poles.
In the crucial moments of the first set, the Americans could not stop opposite Magdalena Stysiak, who scored a match-high 19 points. Poland won the opening set 25-23 after U.S. skipper Kelsey Robinson served behind the line.
In the second set, Poland was in front from the beginning to control the game. The Olympic champions had a chance to find an equalizer, but Jordyn Poulter's hit from the service area did not find the line. Poland closed the second set with 25-20 on the scoreboard.
The Americans could not find their feet as they earned just 18 points to lose the game in three sets. Opposite Andrea Drews was the most prolific scorer of the United States with 12 points, but it turned out to be not enough to beat Poland.
Thanks to the triumph, Poland moved to fourth place in Pool F with 13 points, while the United States is third with two points more.
Pool F leader Serbia continued its winning streak earlier in the day, smashing the Dominican Republic 26-24, 25-20, 25-17 at Atlas Arena in Lodz.
Elsewhere, middle blocker Camilla Weitzel led Germany to a 3-1 (25-19, 25-22, 18-25, 25-23) win over Thailand, as she made 12 kills and six blocks.
