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USA wakes up on time to beat Mexico

 

   

TORONTO, Canada, July 19, 2015 – United States recovered from losing the first set and a serious threat in the second and went on to defeat Mexico 3-1 (20-25, 27-25, 25-16, 25-17) in the last match of day two at the men’s volleyball tournament of the Pan American Games at Exhibition Center in Toronto.

 

It was the first victory for the USA team that lost to Puerto Rico in the opening day. Mexico is winless in two outings.

 

The Americans won the match despite committing 40 unforced errors to 27 by the Mexicans. They, however, dominated in blocks (11-2), service winners (9-3) and attacks (50-38).

 

Zachary La Cavera and Taylor Averill had 17 and 16 points, respectively, as the best scorers for USA. Brian Cook was next with 14 while Torey DeFalco added 11, including three aces and two blocks.

 

Daniel Vargas and Jorge Barajas stood out among Mexican players with 14 and 13 points in the losing effort.

 

Charles Sullivan, Coach of USA: “Mexico is a really good team, with an amazing ball control. They put a lot of pressure on us. We were making mistakes. I just talked to the guys so we could improve the match. It was a good match. We’ve had to expedite the process of becoming a team. This is the second game against teams that have played World League competition on summer and have been together for a long time.”

 

Roberto Vilches, Coach of Mexico: “The first set was too intense, with a high level of game played by us. It also happened on the second set, but we missed the last points because of the lack of experience of our libero. We decreased our level of game after that set and felt like we were in a hole and could not get out of it.”

 

Julian Duarte, Player of Mexico: “We led the score at the end of the first set, but after that they changed their setter. Once they changed him, things became so complicated.”

 

Jesus Rangel, Player of Mexico: “We fought hard, that was our goal to be always aggressive. Unfortunately, our enthusiasm and momentum slowed down. Those are things of the game that we have to solve on the court.”

 

Torey DeFalco, Player of USA: “We were playing a little scrambled in the beginning. We played against a good team. We were sure that they were going to come out and fight, but we figured it out and played some good volleyball, so I am really proud of my team. I love playing at the Pan Am Games, this has been a whole new experience.”

 

 Matthew West, Player of USA: “It was big time. We had not played at this kind of environment before. Even though we had one match we’ve still got the kind of feeling of butterflies inside. But we figured it out and got together. We came out after struggling that first set and closed with a win”.