July 12, 2010

TIJUANA, Mexico - Mizzou freshman setter Molly Kreklow (Delano, Minn.) quarterbacked the USA Volleyball Junior National Team to a 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-20) win over the Dominican Republic on Sunday (July 11) as Team USA claimed the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NORCECA) Continental Championship. Kreklow handed out 15 assists and notched a pair of service aces in the sweep while starting all three sets at setter.

In all, the championship match lasted just over an hour as Team USA dominated from the onset. The closest set was the first as the Dominican Republic led until Team USA gained the advantage at 14-13 midway through the set. After wrestling control from the Dominicans, Team USA won the set 25-22. The last two sets came easier for the US as it claimed each frame by a score of 25-20.

In all, Kreklow started four of the five matches in the tournament and passed out 61 assists while helping Team USA to a perfect 5-0 record while not dropping a set as each of Team USA's wins were sweeps. For Team USA, the NORCECA Continental Championship (U-20) is the fourth in a row, dating back to 2004 in the biannual tournament. Team USA is the only nation to finish with a spot on the podium in every year of the tournament since its inception in 1998. The win also qualifies the team for the 2011 FIVB World Championship (U-20) in Peru.

After advancing through group play with a Pool C title, Team USA defeated Mexico, 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-14), in the semifinals on Saturday before topping the Dominican Republic in the title match on Sunday. Team USA defeated Mexico twice during the tournament and topped teams from El Salvador and Guadalupe as well.

For all the latest on Mizzou volleyball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com.