USA middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo celebrates with her setter Molly Kreklow after a good play
Omaha, Nebraska, USA (July 22, 2015) – Playing in front of their home crowd, the United States thrilled the fans with a 25-12, 25-15, 25-18 victory over Japan Wednesday evening to begin their FIVB World Grand Prix Finals schedule in Omaha, Nebraska.
USA coach Karch Kiraly: "I thought our team did a really nice job in staying engaged in things that were important. We know Japan has certain tendencies. I thought our team was quite good in being prepared for."
USA captain Christa Dietzen: "We are so happy to be in Omaha and in the United States in general. It was very rare that we have the crowd because most of the time it is against."
Japan coach Masayoshi Manabe: "First of all playing against the number-one USA we couldn't start really well and we made a lot of mistakes. That is all that matters. We did not play like ourselves today."
Japan captain Saori Kimura: "From the start we didn't play like ourselves. It is really hard to play USA on their home court."