After winning the first set, Mexico looked to be causing an upset, but USA came back strong
Verona, Italy, September 23, 2014 – USA beat Mexico in four sets (19-25, 25-11, 25-20, 25-14) in a hard-fought match at the FIVB Women’s World Championship at PalaOlimpia on Tuesday.
Key points:
•USA broke a three-match losing streak at World Championships, the most recent of which was in the 2010 bronze medal match
•Mexico and USA played against each other at a World Championship for the first time in 40 years
•This was the fourth time the two teams met at a World Championship. USA previously won in 1970, while Mexico prevailed twice in 1974
Kimberly Hill and Tetori Dixon where the top scorers in the USA team with 15 points. On the Mexican side, captain Andrea Rangel was by large the best scorer with 20 points.
Mexico took the lead on a successful block and on a few errors by USA receivers, helped also by a remarkable performance by Dulce Carranza, who scored two aces in a row.
USA narrowed the gap to 13-10, but a spectacular hit by Mexico's captain Andrea Rangel got Mexico’s supporters going, and coupled with the team’s spirit they stretched their lead to five at 20-15.
After a time out called by USA, Karch Kiraly’s team focused trying to take the lead, but outstanding performances by Mexico's captain Rangel and Claudia Rios maintained the gap wide.
An extreme save by Nicole Fawcett was not enough for USA to regroup and Mexico took the set 25-19.
A fast by Rachel Adams opened the set and USA took the lead distancing Mexico by a few points. Despite their fans’ support and a few substitutions by coach Jorge Miguel Azair, Mexico was not able to pick up the pace and remained stuck at 11 points.
Too many errors and a superior performance gave USA the set 25-11.
Mexico was more determined and managed to take a three-points lead in the beginning of the third set.
USA narrowed the gap as Tetori Dixon performed four successful blocks in a row, but Mexico was still leading by one point at the first technical time out.
Only after a few rallies did Rachel Adams tied the score to 11-11, and the balanced score last to 16-16, until USA took a decisive lead to distance Mexico by six points.
Despite an outstanding performance by Mexico’s captain Andrea Rangel, USA kept their dominance and a stunning hit by Kimberly Hill closed the set 25-20.
The fourth set started in the same fashion, with the USA keeping a firm grip on the game.
Dixon’s ace brought the USA to 16-7 at the second technical time out, when a hit by Rangel, one of the best players on the court, interrupted their winning streak.
But the determination of Mexico’s captain was not enough to overturn the result and again Dixon, top scorer with Kimberly Hill on the USA side, spiked to win the set 25-14.
USA will meet Kazakhstan and Mexico will play against Russia on Wednesday.