TULSA, Oklahoma, July 23, 2022 – Mexico grabbed the final berth to the 2023 U19 FIVB World Championship with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-18) win over Canada on Saturday at the 2022 Pan American Cup at the Cox Business Convention Center in Tulsa.
Mexico (4-2) finished the tournament in fifth place.
Mexico led in spikes (34-27) and aces (11-6). Canada (2-4) led in blocks (7-3) but gave up 27 points on scoring errors while Mexico gave up 19.
Mexico outside hitter Michelle Arzate led all scorers with 12 points on a match-high 10 spikes and two aces. Opposite Luz Solano added 11 points on eight attacks, one block and two aces. Outside hitter Ximena Cordero totaled 10 points on seven spikes and a match-high three aces.
Canada’s scoring was led by outside hitter Abagayle Guezen who scored 10 points on six attacks and two blocks. Setter Kaiya Tyson had a match-high three blocks.
Luis Banuelos, coach of Mexico: We are very happy to have achieved the main goal, which was a pass to the World Championship. We know that we still have a lot to work on, a lot to analyze this entire tournament. But this is a time to celebrate together with the girls, together with our families and all of Mexico. Very happy with the pass to the World Championship.
Canada Coach Christine Biggs: Obviously it’s painful to not come away with a win tonight and a berth to the world championships. I definitely feel for the athletes who committed to the process and did a lot of learning over the week. I think it’s a really good step for them and for the program for our young athletes to have this experience in their developmental pathway. It’s good for our senior national team program to have athletes coming in that have been in these pressure situations.
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