U.S. women's volleyball team heads to final round

The U.S. women's volleyball team's seven-match win streak ended today with a 25-22, 25-21, 25-16 loss to Italy at the FIVB World Grand Prix in Taipei.

The U.S. squad now heads to Yokohama, Japan, along with Italy, for the six-team, round-robin final round. Play begins Wednesday. The FIVB is volleyball's world governing body.

Foluke Akinradewo of Plantation, Fla., led the U.S. with nine kills on 15 errorless attacks, one block and one ace for 11 points. Tayyiba Haneef-Park of Laguna Hills added eight kills, one block and one ace for 10 points. Kim Glass of Lancaster, Pa., contributed six points on five kills and one block. Heather Bown of Yorba Linda had a match-high four blocks with a kill for five points.

The U.S. team has already qualified for the Beijing Games and is using the World Grand Prix to help finalize the 12-player Olympic roster. The U.S. faces Japan on Aug. 9 in its Olympic opener.

-- Debbie Goffa