Kobe, Japan, November 5, 2006 -- The United States ended their run in Pool C with a 3-0 win over Puerto Rico to finish the pool with a 4-1 record.

The Americans cruised past Puerto Rico 25-14, 25-16, 25-15 to earn a berth in the second round, while the Puerto Ricans' 2-3 record meant that their fate would be decided on the outcome of the final Pool C match between the Netherlands (2-2) and Kazakhstan (1-3).

Puerto Rico started the match with obvious determination as they wanted to gain the win that would guarantee them a berth in the second round.

They kept things close in the early stages but Heather Bown played some awesome volleyball on offense and defense and helped her team to move ahead.

Two aces by Katherine Wilkins moved the score from 11-7 to 13-7 and it was 16-9 at the second technical timeout.

The U.S. then moved the score along steadily with some good play by Wilkins.

Setpoint came courtesy of Bown, and a long strike from Puerto Rico's Karina Ocasio sealed the set.

The Puerto Ricans again managed to keep the scores close early in the second set and there was only two points in it at the first technical timeout.

The Americans doubled their lead by the second TTO thanks to more excellent work by Wilkins.

As the game wore on, Nancy Metcalf came up with some huge strikes to maintain the Americans' advantage.

Wilkins delivered a spike to set up setpoint and a good block by Danielle Scott and Wilkins clinched the set.

In the third set, Metcalf continued with her powerful spikes and the U.S. pulled out to and an 8-3 lead by the first TTO.

It wasn't that the Puerto Ricans were playing badly; the Americans, led by Metcalf, were just playing very well.

The lead was up to eight points at the second TTO and the Americans used a combination of spikes and great defense to finish things off.

Bown clinched the match with a first-time spike after a poor service reception by the Puerto Ricans.