MILAN (AFP) - The United States won their first women's world volleyball title on Sunday with a 3-1 victory (27-25, 25-20, 16-25, 26-24) over China.

The best previous performance by the US, who have yet to win Olympic gold, had been runners-up in 1967 and 2002.

On Saturday, they made the final by putting out favourites Brazil who had defeated them in the last two Olympic Games.

Brazil claimed the third-place play-off thanks to a 3-2 win against Italy.