Follow
The rematch turned into a blow out.
The United States finished with a .430 attack percentage as it swept Mexico 25-15, 25-21, 25-18 in the 13th-place finals at the FIVB U21 World Championship on Sunday in Bahrain.
This victory came four days after the United States suffered a four-game loss to Mexico to extend its losing streak to six matches. The United States, though, won its final two matches to avoid its worst finish in nine all-time appearances at the bi-annual event.
USC outside attacker Dillon Klein ended with a match-high 13 kills on a .346 attack percentage against Mexico. Klein had seven of those kills and committed zero errors during the second game.
The Freshman All-American led the United States in kills in each of the final five matches of the tournament. Klein also had double-digit kills in six consecutive matches.
Along with Klein, the United States had two players with more than five kills in the victory.
USC middle attacker Marc Smith finished with nine kills and had a team-best .583 attack percentage. Stanford outside attacker Alex Rottman contributed seven kills and hit .462.
Rottman also led all players with four blocks as the United States out-blocked Mexico to 12 to 2.
Mexico in the loss was limited to a .096 attack percentage, including being limited to a negative attack percentage in the opening-game 10-point loss.
Mexico and the United States were two of the three NORCECA teams that qualified for the 16-team U21 World Championship. Canada swept India in the 1tth-place finals on Sunday to earn the highest finish at the tournament of any team from the region.