BEILUN, China, May 27 (Xinhua) -- The United States claimed their third win in the first round of the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League by beating hosts China 3-0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-18) here on Sunday.
Taylor Sander lead the USA team with 17 points while spiker Benjamin Patch had 14 points. Wing spiker Torey Defalco scored 13 that included four blocks.
Jiang Chuan again proved his leading attack in the Chinese team by scoring 15 points with middle blocker Rao Shuhan adding seven points.
Cheered by the home fans, China pressured the Americans all through the first set and again in the second. But the world No. 2 showed their muscles in the set point of the first and second set thanks to aces from Sanders. The United States leaned heavily on their superior experience in the third to break free.
Early on Sunday, Nikolay Uchikov had 26 points to help Bulgaria beat Argentina 3-1 (19-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-22) in another match. The world 14th-ranked Bulgarians now head home to the second round in Sofia with a 2-1 win-loss record here, losing only to the Americans.
