GANNETT NEWS SERVICE MULTIMEDIA                                                                    Olympics home | E-mail feedback

August 14, 2004 6:54 pm

China tops U.S. in women's volleyball

By MARIBEL VILLALVA

Gannett News Service

ATHENS, Greece -- The Peace and Friendship Stadium was anything but peaceful when the No. 1-ranked U.S. women's volleyball team opened Olympics play against third-ranked China.

The Chinese stamped themselves as strong gold-medal contenders by beating Team USA in four games: 25-21, 23-25, 25-22, 25-18.

The Americans have four more matches in Pool B, starting Monday against Germany, and are anxious to improve upon Saturday's opener. The top four teams in each pool advance to the medal round.

The team has a strong Hawaiian influence, with three players on the roster with ties to the Islands. Middle blocker Heather Bown is a California native who attended the University of Hawaii, and setters Robyn Ah Mow-Santos and Lindsey Berg are Hawaiian born.

Ah Mow-Santos wore a picture of her 18-month-old son Jordon on the backside of her volleyball shorts. She originally wanted to bring her son to Athens with her, but decided against it. Jordan is staying with her parents in Hawaii.

Ah-Mow Santos said losing to China was a disappointment, but the world has yet to see what the U.S. team can do on the court.

``We haven't played our hardest yet. We're going to put up more of a fight,'' she said.

This is the second Olympics for the 28-year-old Ah Mow-Santos and the 25-year-old Bown, who played for the fourth-place American team in Sydney.

Berg, 24, is an Olympics rookie and said the Olympic experience is a dream come true.

``Last night at the opening ceremonies was amazing,'' Berg said. ``When we were in the tunnel (at the Olympic Stadium) and were about to come out, I started tearing. I had no control over it. It was just so amazing to see all of the athletes from all over the world in once place.

``I know I am so blessed and lucky to be here.''

ADVERTISEMENT