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US, China unbeaten in FIVB volleyball World Grand Prix

Xinhua, June 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

China's Zhu Ting top scored for the second successive night as China beat Germany 3-0 (25-12, 25-22, 25-16) in the FIVB volleyball World Grand Prix here on Saturday night.

The win improves China's World Grand Prix head-to-head record against Germany to 18 wins from 19 meets, their most impressive against any opponent they've faced more than three times in the tournament.

Zhu didn't need long to start scoring some of her game-high 13 points as China took a 6-5 lead in the opening set. China was blocking well and a powerful spike from Zhu sealed the set for the host.

Louisa Lippmann was trying to lift Germany into proceedings with some impressive spikes of her own, but Zhu was equally as eye-catching from the other side of the net and China took the second set 25-22.

Zhang Changning was blocking and spiking well and despite Lippmann's team-high 11 points, China were too strong and took the third set 25-16 and match 3-0.

"Germany are a young team, but they pushed us hard in the second set with solid serves. We reacted slowly in defence for a moment," said China coach Lang Ping, who was nicknamed the "Iron Hammer" during her career as a volleyball player.

"For us, every game is a good test and a way to find our weakness. We will go back to analyze how we can make continued progress," she added.

Earlier in the day, defending champions the United States fended off strong challenge from Thailand before winning, with Karsta Lowe scoring a game-high 16 points.

Lowe started prolifically but Thailand matched the Americans through the early stages of the first set, before Lowe helped the 2015 champions pull away to take the set 25-21.

The second set was a real battle, with Thailand erasing a 4-0 deficit with Pimpichiya Kokram enjoying a purple patch. Eventually though Lowe and the United States prevailed to take it 29-27 after more than half an hour on court.

Thailand's defence was stronger still in the third set and Captain Pleumjit Thinkaow chimed in as she scored a team-high 13 points for the match. But a monster kill from Jordan Larson-Burbach, one of 13 points she scored for the game, wrapped up the set 25-23 and the contest 3-0.

"Thailand always play hard and they have good denfence. They challenged us a lot today. It was a great match today and we are looking forward to the next match against China," said USA captain Christa Harmotto.

The third and last day will see Thailand versus Germany and China facing the USA. Endit