U.S. Beats Japan in Volleyball

Brent Hilliard had 46 kills as the San Diego-based U.S. men’s national volleyball team defeated Japan, 13-15, 15-13, 15-5, 15-3, in Osaka Sunday.

Hilliard, the 1992 NCAA player of the year at Cal State Long Beach who replaced Steve Timmons in the starting lineup as an opposite hitter, helped the two-time defending Olympic gold medalists improve to 6-0 in the World League. Japan fell to 0-6.

In the $50,000 Coors Light pro beach volleyball women’s tournament at Las Vegas, Linda Carrillo of Van Nuys and Liz Masakayan of Redondo Beach beat Karolyn Kirby of San Diego and Angela Rock of Carlsbad, 15-9, in the championship match.

AUTO RACING

Mike Palumbo, a rookie who advanced from the go-kart circuit, won the American City Racing League 25-lap race at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz. Palumbo averaged 92.14 m.p.h. while driving a Swift DB5-Ford-Cosworth in race that featured Sports 2000 closed-fendered cars.

San Diego edged Long Beach, 173-160, to finish first in total team points. San Diegans Margie Smith-Haas and Ted Guenther placed fifth and eighth.