The big offensive performance from UCLA outside attacker Sean Kelly didn’t take long to materialize in the opener of the NORCECA Final Six.
Kelly led all players with nine kills in the opening game and finished with a match-high 18 kills on a .452 attack percentage as the United States defeated Mexico 32-30, 25-19, 22-25, 25-20 on Sunday in Puerto Rico.
The All-American committed one attack error in the first game and delivered a kill to fight off a Mexico game-point and force overtime. Kelly also in the overtime 14-point overtime had three kills, including a kill that set up the eventual game-winning point.
Along the opening game, Kelly capped off the pool-play victory with a game-high six kills and zero errors in the final game.
Kelly was one of two U.S. players with double-digit kills.
Hawai’i opposite Kainoa Wade had 12 kills on a .379 attack percentage. In addition, Wade following an attack error midway through the first game did not commit an error the rest of the match.
Both teams had 10 aces with Wade leading the United States with four aces. Mexico pin-hitting Franky Hernandez Milantony finished with a match-high six aces.
Hawai’i setter Tread Rosenthal contributed three aces and guided the offense to out-high Mexico .308 to .208.
Rosenthal and Long Beach State middle attacker Jackson Cryst each also had a match-high four blocks.
Mexico pin-hitter Diego González Castañeda in the loss had a team-high 16 kills. Milantony contributed 10 kills but was the only other Mexican player with more than six kills against the United States.
This was the first of five pool-play matches for the United States at this six-team international tournament. The top-four teams at the end of the pool-play stage will earn berths to the semifinals.