The United States continued their impressive start to the men's FIVB World Cup as they beat Italy in straight sets ©FIVB

The United States continued their perfect start to the men’s International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) World Cup as they recorded a comfortable straight-sets victory over Italy in Hiroshima today.

Led by the attacking prowess of Matt Anderson and David Lee, who scored 17 and 11 points respectively, the Americans were able to emerge victorious from a potentially tricky clash with a determined Italian outfit.

They took the opening set 25-18, which seemed to deflate Italy, before doubling their advantage by securing the second 25-23.

Italy put up a much tougher fight in the third, pushing the Olympic silver medallists all the way before succumbing to a 29-27 reverse as the US sealed a dominant success..

The result saw the American side pick up their fourth win of the tournament, proving far too strong for the Italians, who had come into the match having won all three of their opening games.

Thomas Edgar scored an incredible 50 points to guide Australia to their first win of the event as they beat Egypt in five sets
Thomas Edgar scored an incredible 50 points to guide Australia to their first win of the event as they beat Egypt in five sets ©FIVB

The only other side to still hold an unbeaten record is Poland after they recovered from two sets down to beat Iran in a pulsating encounter in Hamamatsu.

Poland, the reigning FIVB world champions, were on the brink of suffering a surprise defeat as Iran made a superb start, clinching the first set 25-18 before moving to within one of victory by winning the second 25-23.

The Poles launched a rousing comeback, however, and halved the deficit before levelling proceedings with a 25-20 scoreline in the fourth to send the thrilling contest into a decider.

They completed the fightback, sealing a dramatic win by claiming the fifth 15-11.

Elsewhere, Thomas Edgar’s incredible 50-point haul guided Australia to their first victory of the tournament, beating Egypt 23-25, 26-24, 25-23, 20-25, 15-13 in another five-set epic.

Venezuela also got themselves off the mark at the fourth time of asking, overcoming Tunisia 19-25, 25-18, 22-25, 28-26, 15-13, while hosts Japan made light work of Canada, breezing to a comfortable 25-17, 25-15, 25-21 win.

In the other match to take place today, Maxim Mikhaylov’s 19 points proved instrumental as Russia beat Argentina 25-19, 21-25, 25-18, 25-20.


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