US starts women's volleyball World Cup with win

MATSUMOTO, Japan (AP) Foluke Akinradewo scored 15 points Saturday as the United States started the women's volleyball World Cup with a straight-sets win over South Korea.

Kimberly Hill added 13 points as the U.S. won 25-15, 25-22, 25-15. The Americans have never won the World Cup but made the podium in each of the last three editions, including a runners-up finish in 2011.

Russia also began with a comfortable victory, downing Dominican Republic 25-15, 25-18, 25-18 in Tokyo, with Nataliya Obmochaeva scoring 24 points.

Cuba - the most successful World Cup team with four titles - had to work a bit harder for its opening win before overcoming Kenya 27-25, 25-23, 12-25, 25-22 in Tokyo.

Regla Rainierys Gracia Gonzalez scored 25 of Cuba's points, while Kenya's Mercy Moim had 26.

China, which is aiming for its fourth World Cup triumph, came from a set down to beat Serbia 19-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-19.

Elsewhere hosts Japan beat Argentina 25-16, 25-19, 25-12 in Tokyo and Peru also got past Algeria in straight sets, 25-16, 25-13, 25-16, in Matsumoto.