Olympic champs stamp class on hapless Bulgarians

MANILA, Philippines — The most powerful women’s volleyball team in the planet has descended on Philippine soil. And the almighty Americans didn’t disappoint.

The United States overpowered hapless Bulgaria, 25-20, 25-22, 25-20, yesterday to boost its Volleyball Nations League stock in Week 2 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Power-hitting Kelsey Robinson, one of the five additions who were members of the team that struck gold in last year’s Tokyo Olympics, went on an attacking spree and unleashed a team-best 14 hits including 13 on kills.

It was a win that catapulted the Americans to second place with 12 points on four wins in five outings, behind the pace-setting Japanese, who have 14 points on an immaculate 5-0 record.

Interestingly, it was Japan who dealt the US its first and only defeat thus far – a humiliating 25-22, 25-20, 25-20 defeat in Week 1 in Shreveport-Bossier City in Los Angeles on June 6.

The Bulgarians fell to No. 13 with just two points and a victory in five outings to show.

But the world No. 1 has sent in the brigade with the addition of five Tokyo Olympians in Robinson, setter and team captain Micha Hancock, libero Justine Wong-Orantes, and middle blockers Chiaka Ogbogu and Haleigh Washington to bounce back from that harrowing setback in Week 1.

And the opposition may just have started to tremble at the marked improvement shown by the Americans.

“Starting Week 2 with a new group, it’s always uncomfortable,” said Hancock. “But I think this group makes it easy to be in a comfortable situation and just have fun while we play the best in the world.”

PLDT is a presenting partner while The STAR, Quezon City headed by Mayor Joy Belmonte, Maynilad, Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee are among those backing this ultra-competitive 16-country event.