Russia defeats Cuba by 3-1 in a FIVB Men’s World Cup match - Volleyball news
The world number two team, Russia, competed recently with the Cubans in a 2011 FIVB Men’s World Cup match. The two teams met each other on the third day of the third round of the championship that is taking place in Japan. Several of the Japanese cities
played host to the tournament, with the Russians and the Cubans finding themselves playing each other in Hamamatsu.
The contest between the two sides took on competitive tones as it went on to four long and gruelling sets at the end of which the Russians found themselves on the winning end. The first set of the match saw both teams fight hard and stay neck to neck with
each other. No one was sure where the tables would turn until the very end when the Russians were able to put on a spurt of speed and lunge for the opening set win. The loss of the first set did not sit well with the Cubans and they put up quite a challenge
to the Russians.
However, the Russians were in no mood to give up and took the fight till the very end but the Cubans prevailed in equalising the match by bagging themselves a win. The third set of the match saw the Russians coming out strong and they took the lead early
on. Once they had the lead, Russia did not let go of the advantage and the Cubans kept trailing behind as Russia earned themselves another win. A 2-1 deficit did not work well to increase the spirits of the Cubans and they put in a half hearted effort in the
fourth set that got the Russians the win and the match at the following final set scores: 25-23, 25-27, 25-18 and 25-12.
The coach of the Russian team, Vladimir Alekno, expressed himself in the following manner: “Playing during the World League and the World Championships, winning is important but it can be more important to play excellent teams. Cuba played well physically
and technically. We lost the second set because our players were tired, but in the next match we’ll do our best to win.”
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