Nicolas Uriarte
The teams will play again on Saturday at the same venue.
Argentina’s Pablo Bengolea led all scorers on Friday with 16 points on 15 kills and one ace. Sebastian Sole added 12 points on eight kills and four blocks. Tony Ciarelli led the United States with 11 points, including nine attacks.
Argentina out-hit the United States 52-43 while the U.S. led in blocks, 13-11 and aces, 6-5. Argentina scored 30 points on U.S. errors while committing 26.
Argentina libero Alexis Gonzalez was named the Most Valuable Player of the match. He was credited with six digs and 24 excellent receptions.
Argentina started strong, taking an 8-5 lead at the first technical timeout (TTO) on three kills, two blocks and three U.S. errors. They expanded the lead to 16-12 at the second timeout, scoring the final point on a kill straight down by Bengolea. Coming out of the break, Argentina scored twice on a U.S. service error and block by Sole. Leading 19-15, Argentina scored two more straight points on a Bengolea kill and an ace from Bruno. The U.S. came back with a Troy kill and Ciarelli ace to cut the lead to 21-17, but two straight U.S. errors put Argentina back ahead 23-17. Anderson scored with a block before Argentina scored the final two points on Pereyra’s kill off the block and a U.S. hitting error.
The teams were tied 7-7 in the second set when a U.S. service error gave Argentina an 8-7 lead at the TTO. Argentina scored twice more on a tip and U.S. error to lead 11-7 and they led 16-12 at the second TTO. The South American side led by four at 20-16 when its next serve went out of bounds and Lee responded with a kill off an overpass. Leading 20-18, Argentina called timeout, but Lee came back with a block. An Argentina violation tied the score at 20-20. Bengolea answered with a kill. A U.S. error, another Bengolea kill and a block by Castellani gave Argentina set point. Troy scored with an attack before a U.S. service error ended the set. Argentina scored on 10 U.S. team errors while committing only four. The U.S. led in kills 12-10.
The teams were tied in the third set 6-6 when the United States got an ace from Smith and Argentina was called for a double contact to give the U.S. an 8-6 lead. The U.S. still led by two at 14-12 when it scored on two straight Argentina errors to go up 16-12 at the second TTO. Castellani connected on two straight attacks to bring the South American side back to 16-14. The U.S. increased its lead to four at 19-15 after a Smith ace and block by Lee, but Argentina came back with three straight points and Speraw called timeout. The teams battled back and forth until the U.S. reached set point at 24-22 and a block by Kawika Shoji gave the U.S. its first set victory of 2013.
With the United States leading 5-2 in the third, Sole scored on a kill for Argentina, then served the next four points as the South Americans grabbed a 7-5 lead and led 8-6 at the first TTO. A combination of Argentina attacks and U.S. mistakes helped the South Americans take a 15-9 lead. The U.S. fought back to pull to within two at 23-21 and Argentina called timeout. Pereyra responded with a kill to give Argentina match point. Lee came back with a quick kill and Shoji added an ace to pull the U.S. back to within one. Lee scored with a block to tie the score at 24-24, but a Bengolea kill followed by a Pereya ace gave Argentina the victory.
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