There wasn’t much, if anything, getting beyond USC middle attacker Wesley Smith at the net.
Smith finished with a match-high eight blocks as the United States defeated Mexico 25-23, 25-18, 25-27, 25-23 in pool-play at the U23 NORCECA Pan American Cup on Wednesday in Guatemala.
The 6-foot-11 junior had six blocks in the first two games, including a game-winning block that prevented the opening game from going into overtime. Smith also had a game-high two blocks in the final game to help the United States secure its first pool-play win.
Along with the defensive performance, Smith had eight kills on a .462 attack percentage.
McKendree setter Nate Flayter guided the offense to a match-best .476 attack percentage in the first game and out-hit Mexico for the match .280 to .188.
Stanford pin-hitter Theo Snoey finished with a match-high 12 kills. UCLA middle attacker Cameron Thorne added 11 kills on a .381 attack percentage, while CSUN pin-hitter Jalen Phillips had 11 kills and hit .346.
Pin-hitter Leonardo Maldonado Diaz in the loss led Mexico with 12 kills.
The United States with this victory moves into second place in its four-team pool. The team can advance out pool-play and clinch a quarterfinals berth if it beats Belize in its pool-play finale on Thursday.
Belize dropped into last place in the pool following a three-game loss to the Dominican Republic on Wednesday.