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It was only fitting that opposite Gabi Garcia and the United States secured a pool-play victory with a walk-off ace.
The United States finished with 10 aces as the United States defeated Mexico 25-19, 23-25, 25-20, 25-18 on Monday in the Dominican Republic at the Pan American Cup.
The United States opened the match with five aces and in the first game and finished the match with six more aces than Mexico. Four U.S. players also had multiple aces to help the United States remain undefeated in pool-play.
Former UCLA outside attacker Ethan Champlin had a match-high three aces with all those aces coming in the first game, while former Ball State setter Quinn Isaacson contributed three aces. Gracia and former Saint Francis middle attacker Michael Marshman each added two aces.
Along with the serving performance, the United States out-hit Mexico .366 to .274.
Garcia led all players with 12 kills and zero errors on a .667 attack percentage, including having a combined nine kills in the final two games. In addition, Champlin had eight kills, and Marshman had six kills and no errors on a team-best .750 attack percentage.
Pin-hitter Mauro Isaac Fuentes Rascon in the loss had a team-high 12 kills. Fuentes Rascon was the only Mexican player to have double-digit kills against the United States.