OSIJEK, Croatia — Crestview High School graduate and University of Pittsburgh freshman Abbey Emch played briefly in Team USA’s 22-25, 25-16, 25-12, 25-23 victory over Spain in a Pool C opening match at the U19 World Volleyball Championships.

Emch, a middle blocker, had a kill in the third set.

With lopsided wins in the second and third sets, the U.S. dominated statistically in a competitive match with margins of eight in kills (42-34) and aces (11-3) and seven in blocks (15-8).

Four U.S. players reached double digits in points with middle blocker Gabrielle Nichols scoring 14 points on nine kills, four blocks and an ace, and outside hitter Cari Spears leading the squad with 13 kills and adding an ace for 14 points as well. Setter Genevieve Harris ran the offense while contributing a block and two aces.

“The feeling of wearing the flag across our chest is unmatched. We had a battle in the first match, but we are now onto processing our mistakes, celebrating the coups and improving our overall game to be prepared for the next challenge,” Harris said.

Opposite Henley Anderson recorded a match-high five blocks, including three key blocks in the fourth set, to go with seven kills for 12 points. Middle Jordan Taylor totaled 10 points on five kills, three blocks and two aces.

The U.S. took a quick 10-5 lead in the first set before Spain returned from a timeout to score eight of the next nine points. From there, there were multiple lead changes and the only three-point difference the rest of the way came when Spain won the set. Nichols recorded three blocks in the set and added a kill, and Kelly Kinney scored three points on kills.

With an 8-7 lead in the second set, the U.S. went on a 10-2 run to take a nine-point lead. Devyn Wiest served for six consecutive points with two of the team’s five aces in the set. Taylor scored four points on two kills, a block and ace, while Spears led all players with four kills.

An emphatic Nichols kill out of the middle put the U.S. up 6-1 to begin the third set. Spain as close as five points,10-5, but a Taylor ace culminated a 4-1 run that pushed the lead to eight points, 14-6. Spain was only able to put back-to-back points together once the rest of the set. Outside hitter Lameen Mambu led the way with five points on two kills, two blocks and an ace. Nichols and Spears each delivered four kills.

Spain seemed poised to send the match to a fifth set when it took a 19-14 lead in the fourth set, but the U.S. went on a 9-2 run keyed by strong blocking to take a 23-21 lead. Four of the U.S.’s final nine points came on blocks. Anderson recorded three blocks and three kills for six points. Nichols scored four points on three kills and a block. Spears served for four points, one on an ace, to bring the U.S. within one point (19-18) and scored on three kills in the set.

USA plays Peru at 3:15 p.m. today in its second pool match.