USA Sweeps Mexico

 

Canada, September 18, 2007, While Mexico has come to this event with a young team, in the early phases of rebuilding, they came into this match looking to learn from the USA and to execute their game plan and prepare their team for the upcoming NORCECA Olympic qualifier in Mexico in December. The USA, while suffering from a number of injuries to key players is still a powerhouse and is looking to be in the final of this event, securing them a shot at an Olympic berth.

 

The USA was all business in the first set. They literally smothered the Mexican team with blocks and over powered them with their attack. The USA was leading by insurmountable scores of 8-1 and 16-4 at the technical time outs and finished the set with a 25-6 victory.

 

Mexico came out with a little more fight in the second set, however the USA maintained the rhyme they had from the first set to lead 8-6 at the first time out. Mexico would fight to stay in the set forcing the USA to time out down only 10-12. However, the talk by coach Ping Lang did her team well. From there the USA team from the first set emerged and they took over from that point on and cruised to a 25-13 win.

 

The wind had been taken from the Mexican sails. The USA was unstoppable in the third set opening a 6-0 lead. It didn’t get much better for Mexico who was unable to respond to the play of the USA who would win the set and the match 25-10.

 

Ogonna Nnamani led the USA with 11 points on 9 kills, 1 block and 1 service ace, while Martha Revuelta was Mexico’s top player with 5 points 4 kills and 1 block.

 

Post Match Quotes:

Team USA

Danielle Scott-Arruda – Captain

“We are happy for the win. This is the second day that our team remained focused and concentrated on our side. Mexico has a very scrappy team defensively, so we were able to work on our counter attack, an area that we would like to improve on.”

Ping Lang - Head Coach

“We take every match like a practice because we know that most of our players will go overseas after this competition. We work every day, even in practice on teamwork, trying to bring this team together in order to prepare for the tournament later on. We know that the games tomorrow and later on in this event are very important for us.”

 

Team Mexico

Migdalel Ruiz – Captain

“I would like to congratulate the USA for their win. As we have been saying, we are a completely new team. The only thing we can get from this match is to learn from Olympic caliber teams such as the USA.”

Macario Gonzalez - Head Coach

“We didn’t play well today. The USA is too strong, but I congratulate them on their win. I think the top four teams at this event will be very enjoyable to watch. I am upset with the USA (jokingly) only because they didn’t give us a chance to learn more, as the match was over too fast.”