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The U.S. men’s national volleyball team clinched a spot in the FIVB World League final round with a 35-33, 25-17, 25-21 sweep of Russia on Sunday in Dallas.
Setter Micah Christenson (Kamehameha) had 25 assists in addition to two blocks and six digs in the sweep at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. Libero Erik Shoji (Punahou) finished with eight digs; older brother Kawika, the reserve setter, did not play.
Taylor helps U.S. sweep Trinidad
The U.S. women’s volleyball team (8-1) finished second in pool play behind Brazil (8-1), the only team to beat the Americans in the past two months. The final round is in Krakow, Poland, July 13-17 with the winning team earning $1 million.
Hawaii incoming senior opposite Nikki Taylor finished with a match-high 10 points to keep the U.S. unbeaten in the XV Pan-American Cup volleyball tournament with a 3-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Sunday.
Taylor had eight kills with no errors on 11 swings and was in on two blocks in the 25-11, 25-13, 25-19 victory at Club San Carlos. The U.S., 2-0 in Group B play, meets Cuba (2-0) today.
Jankovic held in check in summer league
Former Hawaii basketball big man Stefan Jankovic got off to a slow start Sunday in his second NBA summer league game and couldn’t replicate the success of his Saturday debut with the Miami Heat.
Jankovic scored 17 on Saturday but encountered early foul trouble and was held to just three points Sunday in a 74-48 blowout win over the New York Knicks in Orlando, Fla. He shot 0-for-3 from the field, adding two rebounds, two assists and two turnovers in 13 minutes.
The Heat (2-0) resume play on Tuesday against the host Magic (0-1) in a 7 p.m. contest broadcast on NBA TV.
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