Mexico Locks Second Win in a 5-Set Thriller over Canada

LEÓN, Mexico, August 20, 2024. - Mexico locked its second victory in Pool A with an exciting five-set match (19-25, 25-19, 23-25, 26-24, 15-12) against Canada in the XXI Women’s Pan American Cup in León, Guanajuato.

Mexico improved its record to 2-1, while Canada fell to 1-2.

On the third day of the event, Canada will face Suriname (0-3) at 2:00 p.m. (local time), and Mexico (2-1) will play against Peru (1-2) at 8:00 p.m.

The statistics were balanced, with Mexico leading in attacks (58-53) and blocks (11-10). Both teams scored 7 direct service points. Mexico committed fewer errors (32-25).

Mexican Grecia Castro was the top scorer in the match with 27 points (the highest so far in the tournament). Uxue Guereca added 16 points, and Jocelyn Urías scored a match-high of 6 blocks out of her 15 points.

Four players scored in double digits for Canada, led by Avery Heppell (17 points), Jasmine Rivest (14 points), Nyadholi Thokbuom (13 points), and Abagayle Guezen (12 points).

Canada took control of the first set, quickly jumping ahead (10-6); the blocking by Nyadholi Thokbuom and Avery Heppell neutralized Mexico’s offense. The roles reversed in the second set, with the home team taking a comfortable lead (17-8) thanks to Grecia Castro, along with Jocelyn Urías and Uxue Guereca, but Canada managed to contain and reduce the lead. In the end, with a block by Urías on Thokbuom, Mexico tied the match. Mexico came from behind (0-4) in the third set to turn it around (11-7) once again with their block-defense, but Canada was patient and tied the set at 22 points, eventually winning it with a block by Heppell and on two opponent errors. Mexico won the fourth set to force the tiebreak, which they closed with an advantage in attacks (9-6) and scored on five points from Canadian errors.

Nicola Negro, Head Coach of Mexico: “It was hard-fought, especially after giving away a third set that we had in our hands. We are not playing our best volleyball, but today the girls showed great character and heart. We managed to win an important match to continue our goal of finishing among the top three”.

Shannon Winzer, Head Coach of Canada: “It was an exciting game. I thought that they were moments in the game we could have just given up. We scraped through in the third set and that kept us alive. We’re still making errors in key moments and sometimes move away from the game plan when we need to sink through into the game plan”.