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US Women Win First World Volleyball Title


The U.S. team celebrates after winning the women's Volleyball World Championships final match against China in Milan, Italy, Oct. 12, 2014.
The U.S. team celebrates after winning the women's Volleyball World Championships final match against China in Milan, Italy, Oct. 12, 2014.

The U.S. women's volleyball team has won its first-ever world championship, beating China in Sunday's final in Milan, Italy, three sets to one (27-25, 25-20, 16-25, 26-24).

Top-ranked Brazil ended up with the bronze medal, outlasting host Italy in the maximum five sets, 3-2 (25-15, 25-13, 22-25, 22-25, 15-7).

To reach the title match, the U.S. women had upset Brazil on Saturday, winning in straight sets. Brazil defeated the U.S. in the gold medal match at the last Olympics, when the U.S. was ranked first.

This U.S. team was coached by 53-year-old American Karch Kiraly, who was considered the best volleyball player of the 20th Century by volleyball's world governing body. He is the only person to have won Olympic gold medals in both volleyball categories: beach and indoor. Now he's won a world title as head coach.

He said this U.S. women's team came to Milan "to make history," and did it.

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