Mexico wins final ticket to Italy

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, July 20, 2014 – Mexico defeated Trinidad and Tobago in straight sets (25-14, 31-29, 25-17) at their home soil on Sunday to earn the final ticket to the FIVB Women’s World Championship in Italy from September 23 to October 12.

The Mexicans concluded the five-team NORCECA Final Playoff between second placed squads at the third round qualification tournaments with a 4-0 win-loss record

It is the seventh time Mexico reaches the final round of the women’s world championship. They also participated in the editions of Bulgaria (1970), Mexico (1974), Soviet Union (1978), Peru (1982), Germany (2002) and Japan (2006).

The Mexicans held an 8-3 advantage in the aces category but were outblocked 11-4 by the taller Trinidadians. The winning side dominated in attacks 42-25 and committed 21 unforced errors to 29 by the defeated team.

The second set proved to be crucial for the decision of the match as the home side made an early charge and went up 6-1, but the Mexicans gradually closed the gap and by the middle of the set the teams were battling neck-and-neck.

A few basis reception errors by the hosts gave Mexico two set points at 24-22, but they committed errors of their own and both teams had three set points apiece before the Mexicans closed out the nail-biting longest set of the tournament 31-29.

Lizbeth Sainz and Claudia Rios led Mexico with 16 and 13 points, respectively, while Dulce Carranza chipped in with 11 points, including three aces. Zaria Orellana came off the bench and contributed seven points in the victory.

Channon Thompson topped Trinidad and Tobago with 14 points and Krystle Esdelle added 10 in the losing effort.

Mexican coach Miguel Jorge Azair stated: “We won against a very good team. Mexico played very hard and they were extremely focused. The girls showed hunger.”

Earlier on Sunday, Costa Rica defeated Nicaragua 3-1 (24-26, 25-22, 28-26, 25-18) in the match for third place. Angela Willis led Costa Rica with 21 points while Heidy Trana had a tournament-high 23 points for Nicaragua.

Complete Results

July 16

Mexico d Costa Rica 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-11)

Trinidad and Tobago d Panama 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-15)

July 17

Mexico d Panama 3-0 (25-13, 25-15, 25-20)

Trinidad and Tobago d Nicaragua 3-0 (26-24, 25-19, 25-13)

July 18

Nicaragua d Panama 3-1 (25-16, 24-26, 25-10, 25-19)

Trinidad and Tobago d Costa Rica 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-21)

July 19

Costa Rica d Panama 3-1 (25-19, 25-19, 23-25, 25-18)

Mexico d Nicaragua 3-0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-19)

July 20

Costa Rica d Nicaragua 3-1 (24-26, 25-22, 28-26, 25-18)

Mexico d Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 (25-14, 31-29, 25-17)