Mexico defeats Canada by 3-1: NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship - Volleyball
The fifth position match for the NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship took place between Mexico and Canada on September 17. Mexico secured the consolation spot in the championship by 3-1 in Caguas, Puerto Rico.
It took four sets for the Mexicans to earn a final set score of 22-25, 25-23, 25-18 and 25-22.
The Mexicans were able to outplay the Canadians in nearly all aspects of the game. The key factor that cost the Canadians the match was the number of errors that they had committed in the entire match. The Canadians gave away 42 points in errors while the
Mexicans stuck to a relatively low figure of 27 errors. However, the Canadians were able to make more blocks than the Mexicans at 10-6.
The Mexican player, Cecilia Rios, made the following comment after her team had won the match: “It is our first victory ever over Canada and we are very happy with the victory.” While the Mexican coach, Mario Herrera, reinforced the feeling by making this
statement: “The girls enjoyed the match and play very relaxed.”
Tammy Mahon, the Canadian player explained away her team’s performance in this way: “We couldn’t find our rhythm and it was a well played match for Mexico.” On the other hand, the Canadian coach Arnd Ludwig confessed the following: “Mexico played better
than us and deserved the victory.”
The first set of the match started off in a balanced fashion as both teams went in for the kill. The start of the frame saw a couple of lead changes but as the match progressed, the Canadians were able to stick with the advantage. The Mexicans tried to close
in the gap but the Canadians were able to keep the distance and eventually bag the opening frame at 25-22.
The Mexicans took the lead early on in the second set and stuck with the advantage. The Canadians kept the match close all through but the Mexicans prevailed in sealing the deal on the second set at 25-23.
Capitalising on the momentum generated by winning the previous set, the Mexicans were able to come out strong in the third as well and move smoothly towards another win at 25-18. The Canadians tried to take the match to a fifth set but the effort came in
too late as the Mexicans finished the match with a 25-22 win.
Despite the fact that her team lost the match, the Canadian player Sarah Pavan was able to lead all scorers by tallying a total of 18 points while the top scorer on the Mexican side was Andrea Rangel with 16 points. Pavan was helped by her Canadian team-mates
Kyla Richey and Tammy Mahon each of whom posted 10 points on the score board while Rangel was supported by Samantha Bricio who registered 12 points.
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