Cuba VNL

Havana, Jun 26 (RHC) - The Cuban national team categorically defeated host Serbia (3-1) in the second week of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL), as part of pool six, which is being held in Belgrade.

Jesús Cruz's students celebrated 22-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-16. After losing a tight start, they increased the effectiveness of their game and closed with an overwhelming difference in blocking (18-4) and service (10-3), departments in which all their regulars scored points.

In the attack they were more even, with our team leading (45-43), as well as in errors (29-24), according to the official site of the international federation.

Opposite José Massó deserved the award as top scorer by accumulating 19 points, 14 of them by spikes, three blocks, and two aces.

He was escorted by corner attackers Marlon Yant, again among the most productive of the challenge with 18 (14-1-3), and Miguel Angel Lopez 13 (10-2-1).

Also contributing to the Antillean cause were middle blockers David Fiel 9 (3-5-1) and Javier Concepción 6 (2-3-1), and rookie passer Julio Gómez 4 (1-2-1), who substituted Christian Thondike 2 (1-0-1) since the second set and with positive results for the team.

Even 20-year-old middle blocker Thiago Suarez, who is making his debut with the deluxe team, added attacking and blocking points in his fleeting entry in the third set.

For the hosts, the only players in double digits were Drazen Luberic with 14 (12-0-2) and Veljko Masulovic with 11 (10-1-0).

This outcome, plus the victory against the Germans the day before in this same segment and the one against Brazil (3-2) in the first, the Cuban team has nine units and appears in the top ten of the tournament.

The Netherlands, their opponent this Friday (2:00 p.m. Cuban time), lost to the German team in four sets (26-24, 22-25, 21-25, 21-25, 24-26).

Source: JIT