BEIJING — The U.S. women’s volleyball team, appearing determined to put aside the grief that hung over their first two Olympic matches, defeated Venezuela 3-1 on Wednesday.

With the physical 25-17, 20-25, 25-14 25-18 victory, the U.S. women improved to 2-1 in preliminary pool play. Venezuela fell to 0-3.

The U.S. team was shaken when American Todd Bachman was fatally stabbed in Beijing last weekend. His wife, Barbara Bachman, was seriously injured.

The couple’s daughter, Elisabeth “Wiz” Bachman McCutcheon, played for the women’s team in Athens and is married to U.S. men’s volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon. She is close to many of the players on the current Olympic team.