ASSOCIATED PRESS Former Hawaii middle blocker Heather Bown earned 15 points -- four of them off blocks -- but the U.S. lost to Italy in the final of the Women's Volleyball World Championships in Berlin yesterday.

Italy stands up to U.S.

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Associated Press

BERLIN >> Italy defeated the United States in five sets yesterday to win its first women's world championship volleyball title.

The underdog Italians overcame the Americans 18-25, 25-18, 25-16, 22-25, 15-11, handing the United States its first loss of the tournament. Italy finished fifth at the last worlds in 1998.

"It's difficult to believe we are the world champions, but I think we deserved it," Italian coach Marco Bonitta said. "The players were scared of all the top teams at the tournament here. But with power and increasing self-confidence we made it to the final."

The United States, which had won its first 10 matches, also was seeking its first world title. The U.S. team was forced to play the final without its injured top scorer, Prikeba Phipps, who was replaced by captain Tara Cross-Battle.

"We lost the gold," Cross-Battle said. "But I'm proud of my team. We fought very hard today. We fought very hard the whole world championship."