U.S. Wins Volleyball Championship

The United States, a doormat in the World League two years ago and four games under .500 last year, won the Pool A volleyball championship Sunday with a come-from-behind victory over the Commonwealth of Independent States in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The U.S. got 35 kills and 11 blocks from middle blocker Bryan Ivie and scored a 13-15, 12-15, 15-11, 15-10, 15-10 victory over the CIS. The Americans trailed in Game 3, 9-4, before coming back.

The decision improved the U.S. record to 10-2 and came on the heels of a 15-9, 12-15, 15-7, 15-7 loss Saturday. Pool C champion Italy had the World League’s best record, 11-1, and Pool B champion Cuba was 9-3.

The CIS (9-3), the 1988 Olympic silver medalist and 1991 World Cup champion, finished second.

American Bob Samuelson had 28 kills and Scott Fortune had 21.

“Like our match the night before, we got ourselves in a hole, but we held our composure much better and showed a lot more determination,” U.S. Coach Fred Sturm said. “Several of our younger players--Dan Greenbaum, Bob Samuelson and Carlos Briceno, to name three--gained a great deal of experience and maturity in this match. It was a great win for the U.S. and really helps us in terms of making the World League Final Four.”

The victory advanced the United States as a first-place entry into the semifinal round. The United States will bring along its 3-1 record against the CIS and add to it two matches against the second-place teams from the two other pools. The four teams with the best records advance to the Final Four in Genoa, Italy, after the Olympic Games.

The U.S. plays at Holland (8-4 in Pool B) this weekend and will host two matches against Brazil (7-5), July 3 in San Diego and July 5 at the Great Western Forum. Both matches begin at 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale today through Ticketmaster and the Sports Arena box office.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Gabriela Sabatini will make her first San Diego County appearance Aug. 24-30 when she competes in the 1992 Mazda Tennis Classic at the La Costa Resort and Spa.

Sabatini, 22, won the 1990 U.S. Open and will try to unseat defending champion Monica Seles.