U.S. women win final World Championship tune-up

U.S. women win final World Championship tune-up Keba Phipps scored a match-high 19 points to lead the U.S. women's national volleyball team to a 3-2 win over Italy in its final match before the start of the Women's Volleyball World Championships in Germany Aug. 30. by Paul Soriano USA Volleyball Manager, Public Relations & Publications Keba Phipps scored a match-high 19 points to lead the U.S. women's national volleyball team to a 3-2 win over Italy in Costa Volpino, Italy. It was the final U.S. match before the start of the Women's Volleyball World Championships in Germany Aug. 30. Phipps (Lakewood, Calif./Foppapedretti Bergamo) had a match-high-tying 17 kills and two blocks to lead the United States to a 25-23, 25-23, 21-25, 23-25, 15-12 win. The women play Argentina to begin Pool C play in the World Championships next Friday in Riesa, Germany. Dominican Republic, Kenya, Puerto Rico and the world's No. 1 team, Russia, are also members of Pool C. "Tonight was our final preparation match before the World Championships and it certainly felt great to win," said middle blocker Danielle Scott (Baton Rouge, La./Long Beach State), who scored 10 points on eight kills and two blocks. "Although we would like to win in three or four (sets), the victory was sweet and it was important for us to win a five-game match. We played as a unit even through the tough times. We still have things to improve, but it was a positive step toward reaching our goal in the World Championships." Tayyiba Haneef (Laguna Hills, Calif./Long Beach State) and Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif./Hawai'i) each scored 17 points for Team USA, which lost a five-set match to Italy on Thursday. Bown had 12 kills and zero errors in 20 total attack attempts for a hitting percentage of .600 and added a match-high five blocks. "This is a huge step in the right direction, but now we have to keep preparing for World Championships," said Haneef, who ripped 15 kills and two service aces. Team captain Tara Cross-Battle (Houston, Texas/Long Beach State) contributed to the balanced attack with 11 points on eight kills, two blocks and one ace. Elisa Togut (17 kills) and Sara Anzanello (15 kills, one block, one ace) each scored 17 points to lead Italy. For more information, go to the USA Volleyball web site. By USA Volleyball Published: 8/25/2002