Haneef-Park leads U.S. women's volleyball team to victory

Laguna Hills' Tayyiba Haneef-Park had a match-high 23 kills today as the U.S. women's national volleyball team defeated sixth-ranked China 25-23, 25-19, 22-25, 21-25, 17-15 on the final day of the FIVB World Grand Prix final round at in Yokohama, Japan.

The U.S. (2-3 in the final round) could finish with a broze medal if Italy loses to Cuba and Japan loses to Brazil.

Ranked fourth in the world, the Americans broke a 19-all tie in the opening set with a 3-0 run en route to winning 25-23 with only two errors in the set. But it was the fifth and final set in which the Haneef-Park led the way to victory.

Logan Tom of Salt Lake City put up a block after a Haneef-Park kill to tie the set at 2-all. The U.S. scored three more points only to see China take back the lead with five quick points. The U.S. retook the lead. 8-7, before China notched three straight points for a 11-9 advantage.

The U.S. tied it with a kill leading to a Chinese timeout. The U.S. came out of the timeout going full bore, taking the lead with a kill. Haneef-Park provided the U.S. with its second and third match-point attempts at 15-14 and 16-15, then finished the set off herself with a kill at 17-15.

Haneef-Park recorded all her points on 23 kills via 44 attacks.

-- Debbie Goffa