Smith keys U.S. win over Japan in Bangkok

BANGKOK, Thailand — Former UC Irvine All-American David Smith had 11 kills to help the U.S. men’s volleyball team earn a hard-fought 25-20, 19-25, 25-23, 26-24 victory over Japan Saturday in pool play at the Summer World University Games.

Smith, a middle blocker who helped UCI win the program’s first NCAA championship in May, was one of four U.S. players to post double digit scoring with 12 points on 11 kills and one block. Smith’s 11 kills was a personal best in three matches at the World University Games.

Former UCI All-American setter Brian Thornton played in three games while former Anteaters’ All-American Jayson Jablonsky saw action in two games.

Team USA, 3-0 in pool play, will face Poland (3-0), today.

After losing the second set, the first game the U.S. has lost in the tournament, Team USA won Game 3 then rallied from a 23-24 deficit in Game 4 to record the last three points of the match for the win.

— From staff reports