July 9, 2010

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou freshman setter Molly Kreklow (Delano, Minn.) passed out 21 assists while starting all three sets as the USA Volleyball Junior National Team topped Mexico, 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-23), to win Pool C at the North America, Central America and Caribbean (NORCECA) Continental Championship. Team USA went 3-0 in pool play and defeated its three opponents by a combined score of 225-98, the best overall score of any of the 10 teams at the tournament. The team has not lost a set in tournament.

Having passed out 20 assists in her first two matches combined, Kreklow shined against Mexico as she distributed 21 assists in the match, one more than her previous two matches combined. She alone also handed out more assists than the entire Mexico team, which finished the match with just 16. After winning the first two matches against Guadalupe and El Salvador handily, Team USA head coach Rob Browning stuck with Kreklow during much of the Mexico match after giving her rest in each of the team's first two wins.

Team USA is in search of its fourth-straight NORCECA Continental Championship and will face strong competition from both Cuba and the Dominican Republic - the other pool champions - along with possibly Mexico again, who Team USA defeated in the championship match back in 2008. Mexico is the only team in the 2010 tournament to score more than 10 points in a set against Team USA in three matches.

With the win, Team USA automatically advances to the semifinals, which will be contested on Friday (July 9). Team USA's opponent is yet to be determined. For all the latest on Kreklow's matches with USA Volleyball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com.