Mexico Takes Down Peru in Exciting Five Sets

LEÓN, Mexico, August 21, 2024.- Mexico defeated Peru in exciting five-sets (22-25, 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 15-11) in Pool A of the XXI Women's Pan American Volleyball Cup in León, Guanajuato.

This was Mexico's second consecutive five-set match, improving their record to 3-1, the same as Colombia and the Dominican Republic. Peru now stands at 1-3.

On the last day of the group stage, Peru will play Suriname at 2:00 p.m. (local time) and Mexico will face Colombia at 8:00 p.m.

Mexico dominated in attacks (74-50) and serves (4-3). Peru led in blocks (14-10). Mexico benefited from 40 errors from Peru and gave away 22 points on their own errors.

Grecia Castro was once again Mexico’s top scorer with 27 points (25 attacks, one block, one ace). Uxue Guereca scored 19 points (18 attacks, one ace). Jocelyn Urías added 16 points (12 attacks, 4 blocks), and Karina Flores contributed 15 points (11 attacks, 3 blocks, one ace).

Karina Ortíz was Peru’s leader with 19 points (17 attacks, 2 blocks). Ysabella Sánchez scored 14 points (12 attacks, 2 aces). Kiara Montes, who came off the bench, and Diana De La Peña added 11 and 10 points respectively. De La Peña scored a match-high of 6 blocks.

Peru came from behind to take the first set, recovering from a five-point deficit, capitalizing on 9 errors from Mexico, supported on Aixa Vigil and Ysabella Sánchez kills. Mexico took the second and third sets by dominating in attacks with Grecia Castro and Uxue Guereca and scoring on Peru’s errors. The South Americans didn’t give up and stayed ahead in the fourth set from the ninth point, stopping Mexico with 9 blocks to force the tiebreaker. Mexico didn’t give a break to Peru, with Karina Flores stepping up in key moments and winning the match with a block by Jocelyn Urías against Aixa Vigil, who returned as a substitute in the fifth set.

Karina Flores, Mexico’s middle blocker: “I am very proud. We are all going through many processes to grow as players, to improve our volleyball. We give our all for Mexico; we train for this, and we keep fighting and working hard. Seeing that this hard work is paying off is very gratifying. We all feel the pressure to do things well, and we are thrilled with the results and the team we are creating”.

Karina Ortiz, captain of Peru: “We need to close out sets. We haven’t figured out what happens in those moments, but from point 20 on, the ball feels heavier. We need to have the resolve to finish and close out sets. Even though I had a good individual performance, this is a team game, and we depend on everyone”.