MEXICALI, Baja California, June 1, 2008.- USA defeated Argentina 3-0 in Pool A of the Women’s Pan American Cup and both teams have a 2-1 record. The Americans won by score of 25-16, 25-18, 30-28.

Tracy Stalls had 5 blocks and a total of 16 points to lead USA, while Kristin Richards and Alexis Crimes had 11 apiece. Heather Hughes and Cynthia Barboca each added 7 tallies. Georgina Pinedo and Natalia Espinoza had 10 and 9 respectively for Argentina.

“I think Argentina improved its serves in the third set and also their variety of attacks,” said Angela McGinnis, the captain of USA. “We lacked intensity in the third set, but recovered on time to win it.”

“Our serves improved in the third set against a team like USA,” said libero Marianela Robinet of Argentina. “I would have liked to play the whole match the way we played in the third set.”

“USA and Dominican Republic are one step higher than us,” said Horacio Bastit, the Argentinean coach. “Our goal is to win one more match and advance to the quarterfinals.”

“The third set was a good test for our young players,” said Tom Hogan, the American coach. “Each game is a learning experience and we will take one match at a time. To win this one was really critical for us.”

The Americans were in front 8-4 and 16-9 at the technical time-outs with better blocking than their opponents. Tracy Stalls was the key USA player at the net in the first set.

In the second set, the USA Team established an 8-5 gap at the first stop and then relied on the spikes of Kristin Richards to built a 16-12 advantage. The resistance of Espinoza helped Argentina in the later part, but one big smash from Hughes finished it.

Argentina was ahead 8-7 and 16-15 at the technical stops of the third set with a good performance by Pinedo and Espinoza. But the American did not wait mucho to react  and started a fiery battle that ended with a block by Stalls after a missed serve of Yamila Nizetich in the fifth match-point.