Americans stay undefeated, beat Germany in five sets

MEXICALI, Mexico, October 7, 2013.- The United States kept an undefeated record in Pool B after a 3-2 win over Germany (25-15, 23-25, 25-27, 25-12, 15-11).

Americans are 3-0 at the tournament. Outside Hitter and captain Gina Mancuso scored 20 points while Sandra Adeleye 10.

 Germany tried to distribute more their game with Katharina Schwabe and Leonie Schwertmann. Both scored nine points apiece.

German Captain Jennifer Geerties finished with 8 points but was forced to leave the match due to an injury after the third set. USA had a 12-10 advantage in block kills and lead 8-6 in services.

Silge Wiebke had three block kills for Germany, the same by Hayley Hodson and Sandra Adeleve on USA’s side.

In the last points of the fifth set Germany kept the hopes of resilience, but USA set some pressure. Spike kills were  also a huge difference (52-34) in favour of the team coached by Olympic medalist Karch Kiraly.

The Americans had a strong start in the first set, closing it with a 10 point advantage. Germany recovered in the second with good pass and defence strategy ordered by coach Jens Tietbohl. The Germans also came back in the third thanks to their block.

USA had two set point chances but could not closed the third that was for the European team that could not convert more than 12 points in the fourth and fifth.

That situation and some adjustements made by Kiraly’s squad in the fourth gave them a 8-2 advantage by working on the service as a weapon that put Germany’s reception in trouble.

Libero Anna Pogany had some good reactions but missed a couple of key points in reception. USA had to work with short and fast rallies in the set. Tiata Scambray and Rebecca Schäperklaus were the serving weapons on the American and German sides, respectively with three aces by the end of the fourth set that was dominated by USA by more than 13 points.