Cuba cruised to a 25-15, 26-24, 25-17 straight set win over an uninspiring USA side at Capital Gymnasium on Monday and is now in top spot in pool A.
US coach Lang Ping of China looked unhappy with the performance of her team in the first set as they had major misses on attack, serve and reception. The United States started the set strongly and led 5-1. But Yanelis Santos of Cuba showed her teammates the way with some vicious attacking and serving and Cuba pulled away to take the first set 25-15.
Stacy Sykora of the United States pulled off a wonderful one-handed save which dropped on the opponents’ court to spark an American revival in the second set but Yumilka Ruiz of Cuba evened the score at 24-24 with a left side hit. Cuba spiked a free ball to end the second set 26-24.
The Cuban block tightened on the third set as the United States could not get their attacking game going. The Cuban attackers had an open court to practice their spikes as the Americans were unable to hold off their hard-hitting opponents and Cuba took the match 25-17 in the third set when Heather Bown of the United States sent a hit outside the Cuban court.
Two more pool A matches will be contested in the evening, with China facing Poland and winless Japan and Venezuela competing to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive.
from: beijing2008.cn
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