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U.S. Women Remain Undefeated in Volleyball

By Associated Press | Aug. 05, 2012, 5:24 p.m. (ET)

 Destinee Hooker
Destinee Hooker passes the ball in the second set against Turkey during women's volleyball action on Aug. 5

LONDON -- Destinee Hooker scored 19 points and the undefeated U.S. women's volleyball team wrapped up preliminary pool play at the London Olympics with a straight-set victory over Turkey on Sunday night.

The top-ranked U.S. team was hurt in the third set when captain and three-time Olympian Lindsey Berg appeared to injure her left ankle.

Foluke Akinradewo added 15 points in the 27-25, 25-16, 25-19 victory for the top-ranked United States, which had clinched the top seed in its pool for the Tuesday quarterfinals.

Neriman Ozsoy scored 14 for Turkey, which had to wait until the conclusion of the late match between Brazil and Serbia to learn whether it would advance.

Turkey, which came into the match 2-2, was fired up at the start and took a first-set 11-5 lead to the delight of a big turnout of Turkish fans at Earls Court. The U.S. came back with an 11-3 run and won it on Christa Harmotto's block.

The U.S. team breezed through the second set and took a 9-5 lead in the third, but then Berg limped off the court. The setter removed her shoe, and a trainer wrapped the ankle in ice.

Her team prevailed without her, winning the match on Akinradewo's kill. Berg limped to congratulate Turkey after the match.

The U.S. women have never won a gold medal in indoor volleyball. The team fell just short at the Beijing Games under coach Lang Ping, taking home the silver after falling in the final to Brazil.

Now playing under Hugh McCutcheon, who led the U.S. men to the gold in Beijing, the United States is among the favorites.

Sunday was the final day of the preliminary round.

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