World Grand Prix champions China and the United States have been unstoppable at the 2003 women's volleyball World Cup.

Turkey's Natalia Hanikoglu spikes as she is covered by Chinese blockers Zhao Ruirui (L) and Feng Kun during their second round women's World Cup volleyball match.

The Chinese steadily moved toward their first World Cup title in 18 years by whitewashing European champions Poland 3-0 in Japan on Thursday while the Americans swept the hosts Japan in Nagoya.

China and the United States now share a lead in the round robintournament, which runs through November 15, with five straight wins each.

Playing without star spiker Ana Chagas, who had the little finger in her right hand broken in Wednesday's come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Dominican Republic, Brazil held back a strong late surge from Cuba to beat the defending World Cup titlists in a five-set thriller on Thursday.

The Chinese women hammered Poland 25-16, 25-19 and 25-17 in 61 minutes.

"Poland is a very strong team, but the players are not used to our variety in attacking tactics. That made the match easier more us," said Chinese head coach Chen Zhonghe.

Star spiker Malgorzata Glinka finished with a game-high 17 points, but that was not enough to save her team from a fourth straight loss.

Liu Ya'nan led four Chinese in double digits with 12 points. The 1.96-meter Zhao Ruirui had eight kills and three blocks for a total of 11 points and Yang Hao and Wang Li'na added 10 points apiece for China.

The Brazilians outlasted Cuba 25-23, 25-16, 37-39, 26-28 and 15-9 for their fourth straight win following a opening loss to China.

Down by two sets, the Cuban women withstood eight match points for a 38-37 advantage in the third set. A fortune ball rewarded them the set and pulled them back from the edge.

In the fourth set, Brazil pulled away from 16-all for a 22-16 lead, but Cuba answered with a 6-0 burst on back of storming services from Zoila Barros to tie it at 23-23. Then Cuba beat offanother three match points for a 27-26 advantage and Barros took the set for them with an ace.

Brazil raced to a 5-1 lead in the decider, this time the Cubanscould never close the gap.

"It's a very difficult match, both teams are at the same level," said Brazil's head coach Jose Guimaraes. "We kept concentration in the fifth set, thus we were able to get the set and win the match."

Virna Dias led Brazil with a game-high 29 points. Valeska Menezes had 21 and Erika Coimbra added 16 for Brazil.

The Cuban head coach Luis Calderon wished they could have started better.

"If we could have started stronger, the result would be different," he added.

Barros finished with 18 points. Yaima Oritz and Yumilka Ruiz contributed 25 and 24 points respectively for Cuba.

Earlier in Nagoya, reigning world champions Italy downed Argentina 3-0 to improve to a 4-1 record. South Korea also claimeda straight-sets win over Egypt, the only winless team left.

In Thursday's other action, Turkey beat Dominican Republic 3-0 in Sendai.

Twelve teams are competing at the tournament with top three finishers to qualify for the Athens Olympics in 2004.

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