The United States' Destinee Hooker (19) and Heather Bown (7) put up a triple block against China's Ruoqi Hui during their match in Tokyo. [Source:Sina.com]

The U.S. women's national volleyball team held off China to take a thrilling 3-2 (25-21, 31-29, 18-25, 19-25, 15-10) victory on Wednesday morning in Tokyo during the FIVB World Cup final at Yoyogi National Stadium.

China had won the first two meetings against the U.S. in 2011 at the Montreux Volley Masters. However, Team USA swept China in the 2011 FIVB World Grand Prix opening preliminary round.

After winning the first two sets, the U.S. saw China take the third set handily and then come back from a 9-4 deficit to win the fourth. The tie-breaking fifth set was tied 7-7 when the U.S. went on a 4-0 run, including two blocks and a tip by Opposite Destinee Hooker and a block from outside hitter Jordan Larson to lead 11-7. China could not respond. Hooker scored nine points in the fifth set.

"I'm extremely proud of our team today," U.S. head coach Hugh McCutcheon said. "China is playing good volleyball. Their style is different than most teams here. We started well and showed poise in the second set coming from behind and again in the fifth set."

Hooker led all scorers with 37 points on a match-high 34 attacks, two blocks and one ace. Middle blocker Heather Bown added 16 points on 11 kills, three blocks and a team-high two aces.

China was led by Ruoqi Hui, who finished with 25 points on 22 kills, one block and two aces.

"We have managed to play five sets with one of the best teams, and for us we have learned a lot," China Head Coach Yu Juemin said. "Today we had a great game with quick offense and good serve receive. We'd like to continue this in the next two."

The FIVB World Cup uses a round-robin format resulting in 11 matches over a 15-day period. The three teams reaching the World Cup medal podium on Nov. 18 will earn berths into the 2012 Olympic Games.

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