Canada win Norceca battle against Cuba

Canada prevailed over Cuba in nail-biting five-setter (25-27, 25-18, 23-25, 25-11, 15-13) in match of Pool F at Centennial Hall of Wroclaw on Wednesday night. The Canadians raised their point-total to seven while Cuba’s slightly increased to two for the second round.

Cuba gave away 38 points via errors to 25 by Canada. Cuba had won their only previous meeting at world championship in 1998. First five-match winning streak of Canada in world championship.

Dallas Soonias and Nicholas Hoag topped the winners’ scoring with 17 and 16 points, respectively, while John Gordon Perrin and Fred Winters contributed 13 and 10 points.  Cuba’s Rolando Cepeda tallied 17 followed by Javier Jimenez with 14. Osmany Uriarte (13) and Isbel Mesa (10) also reached double digits.

In the tie-breaker, the Canadians blocking by Soonias and Adam Simac was the key to success. With great kills, Glenn Hoag’s team gained a 7-3 lead. The Cubans were looking for their chance in powerful spikes by the likes of Jimenez, so they forced the Canadians to make several errors. The North American side was keeping a two-point lead. With Uriarte’s ace, Cuba managed to bring the tied score but Schimtt’s kill definitely solved the case for Canada’s team as they won 15-13.