Mexico wins NORCECA Group C FIVB WCH Qualifier in five-set thriller

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad & Tobago, October 15, 2017.- Mexico defeated Trinidad & Tobago in a five-set thriller 3-2 (25-21, 25-22, 23-25, 22-25, 15-9) to win the NORCECA Group C FIVB Women’s World Championship Qualifier.

With both teams having clinched their spots to the FIVB World Championship, Mexico for eighth occasion and Trinidad & Tobago for the first time, the title match was full of exciting and long rallies.

While Mexico led the first two sets, the third and fourth sets became a scoring party. Mexico finally the resolved tie-break set winning their second consecutive NORCECA qualifier.

Mexico’s 13-8 margin in blocking was essential, while Trinidad & Tobago led in aces 6-5. Both finished with 55 attacks. Mexico benefited from 37 opponent errors and committed 33.

The thriller win for Mexico was led by Samantha Bricio with 23 points, including 19 kills and 3 aces. Dulce Carranza scored 19 points, including 14 kills and 4 blocks, and Xitlali Herrera contributed with 18 points. Channon Thompson of Trinidad & Tobago scored a match-high of 24 points on 20 impressive kills, two blocks and two aces; Darlene Ramdin added 15 points all by kills, and Krystle Esdelle scored 12 points.

Samantha Bricio, outside hitter of México: “It’s an honor to play with Mexico, I am very happy; and mostly to qualify to the world championship. Our team will be stronger for world’s with the players who couldn’t come here because of their studying schedule; even so we have to work in every aspect of the game. I’ll go to the Central American and Caribbean Games if my health allows it. It was a strong match and I think we relaxed too much after winning the first two sets; Trinidad y Tobago is strong and tall”.

Ricardo Naranjo, Head Coach of México: “It was a difficult win, we knew about Trinidad & Tobago’s strength. We prepared a team that with Samantha had a good offense and defense as well. We got to relaxed and had to finish strong in the fifth set. We are expected to have the squad complete for the world championship, including Samantha and Rangel, hoping they recover from their injuries well. Winning with this team is really motivating because they showed a strong will, heart to do things well”.

Krystle Esdelle, Captain of Trinidad & Tobago: “We’ve accomplished a lot this year. Fighting as we did tonight means we have moved a step further. We used to think about beating Costa Rica as a goal and know our goal will be to beat Mexico; it was an exciting final match”.

Francisco Cruz, Coach of Trinidad & Tobago: “We proved tonight that our team and sport is worth investing in. Volleyball is the only sport that qualified to world’s this year; funding should come to us. Our improvement has been so much with so little support; imagine what we can accomplish with more money. I am positive we could have won tonight, but we failed too many serves and some players weren’t concentrated enough”.