USA beat Russia with team effort

JIANGMEN, China, June 5, 2018 - The United States continued their winning ways on Tuesday night with a 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-18) victory over Russia that was led by Michelle Bartsch-Hackley's team-leading 16 points but was more a showcase of just how well the Americans play as a unit.

The reigning world champions never really looked troubled by their opponents and improved on an already impressive run of form in this event, led by the likes of wing spiker Bartsch-Hackley, opposite spiker Andrea Drews and wing spiker Kimberly Hill (nine points each).

They spread the points around - and the joy, judging by their celebrations at the final whistle.

For the Russians, the worrying statistic is that they have now failed to take a set off four opponents in the VNL. The positives were a fightback in the third set and the input off the bench of 20-year-old middle blocker Angelina Lazarenko. She added some bite to an effort that was led by wing spiker Kseniia Parubets' 12 points.

Team USA entered the fourth round of the VNL on an incredible streak of seven straight victories in world matches, all coming in straight sets. They wasted no time in making it eight victories in a row - and 24 straight sets.