FUKUOKA, Japan : European champions Italy captured their first World Grand Champions Cup women's volleyball tournament when they defeated Japan to complete a clean sweep on Sunday.

With a 32-30, 25-22, 24-26, 25-18 win, Italy ended the six-team round robin competition with five straight wins against no defeats, beating defending champions Brazil into second place.

The Brazilian women, who also finished runners-up to Italy in the 2007 World Cup, outgunned Asian champions Thailand 25-22, 25-20, 25-18 earlier in the day for a 4-1 win-loss record.

The Dominican Republic, the winners over South Korea 25-17, 25-18, 25-22, were third with a 3-2 record, followed by Japan with 2-3, South Korea with 1-4 and Thailand with 0-5.

- AFP /ls