OSIJEK, Croatia — It was another disappointing day against Eastern European competition for the United States U19 girls volleyball team at the World Championships on Sunday.

Bulgaria outlasted the USA with a 25-15, 16-25, 27-25, 13-25, 15-5 win in the fourth Pool C match for each country. Despite dropping two straight matches to Poland and Bulgaria, the USA (2-2) has done enough to advance out of the pool stage and into the elimination tournament. The top four in each pool advance to the elimination tournament. USA sits third in its pool. Unbeaten Poland is first, Bulgaria is second and Turkey is fourth. Spain and Peru have been eliminated out of the group.

The USA will wrap up pool play today against Turkey (2-2) at 3:15 p.m. in Croatia. On Tuesday, the USA will play a Pool A team in the round of 16 also in Osijek. Currently hosts Croatia lead Pool A with Germany second.

Crestview High School graduate and University of Pittsburgh freshman Abbey Emch had five kills, four blocks, two aces and two digs for team USA, her best all-around effort of the tournament so far.

The U.S. dominated at the net with 16 blocks compared to just four for Bulgaria but was unable to overcome the deficits in kill. (60-51). Bulgaria served two more aces (9-7).

Outside hitter Suli Davis was one of four U.S. players in double figures, leading the team with 17 points on 12 kills, three blocks and two aces. Outside Kelly Kinney also registered 12 kills.

Setter Genevieve Harris had four blocks. Outside hitter Devyn Wiest totaled 10 points on eight kills, a block and an ace.

Middle blocker Gabrielle Nichols scored seven points on four kills, two blocks and an ace, and outside hitter Lameen Mambu added six points on five kills and an ace.

“Another battle in Pool C tonight,” head coach Keegan Cook said. “Bulgaria has been excellent from the service line and some big serves in the fifth set. I’m extremely impressed by the performances of our athletes who entered the match, particularly our outside hitters. I’m looking forward to another great opportunity tomorrow with Turkey.”

In the first set, the U.S. trailed by three points, 12-9, when Bulgaria went on a 10-3 lead to take over the set. Emch scored four points on two kills, a block and an ace.

The key point in the second set was with the U.S. clinging to a 13-12 lead. Davis hustled to retrieve an errant pass and Harris later scored on a block to spark a 6-0 run that put the U.S. up 18-12. With the score 21-14, Nichols scored, and Davis followed with back-to-back aces for a 10-point lead. Davis (two kills, two aces, one block) and Nichols (three kills, one block, one ace) each scored five points.

An ace gave Bulgaria an early 10-4 lead in the third set. The U.S. battled back and finally tied the score at 21. Davis made a one-handed dig and then scored to tie the set again at 22. The U.S. tied the set at 24 after fighting off two set points and fought off another set point at 25-24 before Bulgaria was finally able to string two points together. Davis led the U.S. with six kills with Wiest adding four.

The U.S. started the fourth set on a 7-2 run and never looked back. A Wiest ace and a Harris kill on an overpass made it 6-2 and sent Bulgaria to its first timeout. Davis scored on the next play and the lead was never less than five points after that. Davis again led the U.S., scoring five points on three kills and two blocks. Kinney recorded four kills, and Wiest added two kills and a block to her ace for four points.

Bulgaria scored the first two points of the fifth set and never trailed, building an 8-3 lead as the teams switched sides.