China and Cuba play out five set thriller in women’s volleyball

August 14, 2008

Tonight I was lucky enough to watch the China-Cuba women’s volleyball match. It was a thrilling match between two of the one time heavyweights in women’s volleyball.

China were playing above their current world ranking of number 7 as the took on the world no. 3. The first two sets were all China as they won 25-18, 25-14. The spikers were in control and were hitting the floor with good succes. The third set was looking the same as China held a 15-11 advantage.

Here it all changed. Cuba called a timeout. When they came back it was a different team. They won 8 straight points thanks to some big serving from their setter Santos. Cuba went onto claim the set 25-23.

The fourth set was the most exciting of the match as both team refused to give their opponents the edge. Cuba’s no. 12 Rosir Calderon was hitting great angles to pile up the points for Cuba while China’s solid play saw them bring up match points. Six times they had a chance to claim the match but each time Cuba would deny them. In the end someone had to give and it was China. Cuba won the set 32-30.

The fifth set saw China take the early lead but Cuba came back. Before I knew it the score was 13-13. I said to my wife whoever wins this point will take the match. As it was China served out and this gave Cuba a match point. They just needed one.

The final score to this thrilling match was 18-25, 14-25, 25-23, 32-30, 15-13. Cuba now sits at the top of Pool A with six points. China and USA are on five points however China has a better sets ratio.

USA and China meet each other in two days time in what will be a crucial pool A match. Both team’s will be keen to take the points. The USA team are coached by former China volleyball great Lang Ping.

Written by rob · Filed Under volleyball beijing olympics 

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One Response to “China and Cuba play out five set thriller in women’s volleyball”

  1. Cuba » Cuba current account swings to a surplus in 2007 on August 15th, 2008 8:13 am

    [...] China and Cuba play out five set thriller in women’s volleyballCuba’s no. 12 Rosir Calderon was hitting great angles to pile up the points for Cuba while China’s solid play saw them bring up match points. Six times they had a chance to claim the match but each time Cuba would deny them. … [...]

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