Australia U23
Australia won the first set 21-18, holding a small advantage throughout most of the set. Top scorer Lincoln Alexander Williams (5) was a crucial contributor as usual, as was middle blocker Nehemiah Mote (3) and wing spiker Jordan Richards (3), but Australia kept Mexico in it with eight error points – as many as they conceded in the whole match against Russia.
Mote was the main points contributor in the early part of the second set for Australia, but Mexico’s error count also rose. Wing spiker Ivan Marquez was leading Mexico’s blocking game well, but a combination of strong serving from Richards and middle blocker Brad Millers helped Australia to take the second set 21-17.
Despite maintaining a high error count, Mexico were still able to take the third set 21-18, thanks to a superior attack that turned the set around after the technical timeout. Wing spiker Juan Revuelta was inserted for the third set and contributed four points as his team got back into the match.
Australia got their errors under control better in the fourth set and, in combination with the attacking threat of Mote and Williams, it allowed them to control the set, take it 21-19 and record their first tournament win 3-1.
Mote (15) and Williams (14) finished as Australia’s top scorers and, while Roberto Rincon claimed 11 points for Mexico, it was his colleague Revuelta’s contribution (9) after his third-set entry that gave his team a chance.
The bottom two sides in each pool are eliminated after the first phase, so the Men’s U23 World Championship campaigns of both Australia and Mexico are now over and they head home.
To read more news from this competition click on World Championship U23 M.
