Megan Hodge was the hero for Team USA vs. China. (Getty Images)

If their first two games were a statement of intent for Team USA's women's volleyball team, showing the world that they had brought the big guns to this tournament, their third game against rival China was the punctuation mark. They can't handle us, period. And the rest of the world should be equally concerned about these young guns. 

Team USA swept China 3-0 in group play Thursday to advance to top place in Group B with 9 points. And it could hardly have been more difficult, yet it was an exhibition in showing every which way to win. 

Pulling away easily in the second set, the first and third matches both required comebacks from Team USA who rallied from a 24-21 match-point deficit in the first to win 26-24. Again, the Chinese took the lead in the third set above 20 points, only to find the U.S. rally once more. Then the fireworks began. 

The teams traded points from 24 to 29, with China forcing the U.S. into six match points. It is impossible to say either team surrendered, the end only coming, once again, off the strength and power of the U.S. athletes. Destinee Hooker, the rising star of the competition, nailed a spike off a defender's face to set up match point No.6, and then the star of Wednesday, Megan Hodge finished the day off with a softer tap. 

In truth, Wednesday showed off all of Team USA's abilities, not just the freakish athleticism which has created a mainstream buzz around the team. They had to play a smarter game against a Chinese squad which may have lacked the raw size, but brought an incredible amount of power to their spikes, the hardest-hitting team the U.S. has faced thus far. The Americans played smart, played the angles and edges, and received a considerable boost from Hodge off the bench, with 18 points, second-most behind Hooker's 22. 

Lost in the Hodge show was another outstanding performance from Foluke Akinradewo at the et. She finished with just two blocks but in reality, was more of a force to extend play. And the longer a point goes, the better it sets up the United States. 

It wasn't a dominant win, but an emphatic one, with no doubt to remain about who the favorites in this tournament should be. There's a lot of volleyball to be played, but with the versatility and willpower shown in their match against China, Team USA's vision should already have a gold hue to it. We'll see if they avoid the same mistakes and letdowns other USA Olympians have suffered at these games. 

China threw the kitchen sink at Team USA. 

Team USA spiked it back.