BEIJING — A U.S. women's volleyball team struck by tragedy just hours earlier beat Japan in an emotional Olympic opener marred by the fatal stabbing of an ex-player's father.

The team took the court yesterday after learning of the stabbing death of Todd Bachman, father of former Olympian Elisabeth "Wiz" Bachman McCutcheon. He was attacked by a knife-wielding man at a popular tourist site in Beijing.

Her mother was seriously injured by the attacker, who jumped to his death from a balcony of the Drum Tower, an ancient landmark the Americans were visiting.

Barbara Bachman is in critical but stable condition at a Beijing hospital

"It's hard to put it in words," a tearful U.S. player Logan Tom said after the match. "That's not something that's supposed to happen."

The killing cast a pall over the match, in which the Americans defeated Japan 3-1 (25-20, 20-25, 25-19, 25-21), in the first match of preliminary play at the Capital Indoor Stadium.

Bachman McCutcheon is the wife of Hugh McCutcheon, coach of the U.S. men's indoor team, which is scheduled to open play today against Venezuela.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Wiz, but until we have a chance to talk to her, that is all we are going to say," former University of Hawai'i standout Robin Ah Mow-Santos said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family."

American player Stacy Sykora said the team was rousted from naps yesterday afternoon and told of the attack.

"It was a reaction that I don't even have to describe. You have to understand what Liz Bachman is to USA Volleyball. She's probably the nicest person in the entire world, her and her family," Sykora said. "Her family is like our family because they traveled with us, she fought in the 2004 Olympics with us, she was my roommate in 2004."

After the match, the players huddled on the court for several moments. Some cried, others embraced. They waved to the fans who chanted "U-S-A!" during the game, before solemnly leaving the court.

"You can't just forget something like that," said Tom, who also played with Bachman McCutcheon in 2004 in Athens. "It is so horrible."

The four U.S. players with Hawai'i ties had solid efforts against Japan.

Former UH setter Ah Mow-Santos had 21 assists, while Kim Willoughby, playing in her first Olympics, tallied 11 points in the victory, including nine kills on 16 attempts with just two errors.

Heather Bown added 15 points with 12 kills on 20 attacks to go with three blocks. Punahou alum Lindsey Berg had an ace.

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL

STANLEY HAS 22 POINTS IN AMERICAN VICTORY

BEIJING — The U.S. men's volleyball team got by Venezuela in its opening match today, posting a 25-18, 25-18, 22-25, 21-25, 15-10 victory.

Honolulu's Clay Stanley, a Kaiser High and University of Hawai'i alum, had a match-high 22 points in the victory.

U.S. coach Hugh McCutcheon was not on the bench for the match, following the stabbing death of his father-in-law, Todd Bachman, in Beijing earlier.

"We're banding together as a team to lift up the Bachmans and McCutcheons. We are a family, and we'll get through this together as a family," the U.S. team said in a release.

SWIMMING

EX-UH SWIMMER SCHLANGER WINS BRONZE

BEIJING — Melanie Schlanger, a former University of Hawai'i swimmer, was part of the bronze-medal winning Australian team today in the finals of the women's 4x100 freestyle relay.

Schlanger, who was the Western Athletic Conference freshman of the year after the 2004-05 season, holds UH records in the 50-, 100- and 200-meter freestyle.

Today, Schlanger swam the third leg of the relay as Australia finished in third place in a time of 3 minutes, 35.05 seconds. The Netherlands won the gold medal in 3:33.76, while the U.S. team took silver in 3:34.33.