Germany sweeps Team USA in volleyball

Germany handed the U.S. women’s national volleyball team its first loss in the FIVB World Cup on Wednesday at Toyama, Japan. The Americans lost their final second-round match, 32-30, 25-19, 26-24.

Team USA, with Hawaii players Lindsey Berg (Punahou), Heather Bown (University of Hawaii) and Tamari Miyashiro (Kalani), is 4-1 with 12 points. It is second behind Italy (5-0, 14 points). The top three teams at the end of the 15-day tournament qualify for the 2012 Olympics.

Germany trailed 9-4 in the first set and fought off seven set points. It trailed 22-18 in the third before rallying.

Bown scored seven points, with five kills and two blocks, in two sets. Berg set the team to a .384 hitting percentage, while Germany hit .410. Miyashiro was used as a back-row sub.

The U.S. plays Argentina on Friday in the first match of the third round.

BYUH beats Chaminade, drops in poll

Despite winning three matches last week, Brigham Young-Hawaii dropped one spot from No. 2 to No. 3 in the NCAA Division II West Region women’s volleyball rankings.

The Seasiders also swept Chaminade on Wednesday night, 25-12, 25-8, 25-13.

BYUH (17-3, 14-1) already locked up the Pacific West Conference title and the automatic bid into the NCAA D-II tourney.

Hawaii-Hilo is No. 6 in the West Region.