Cuba Defeats Dominican Republic in Women’s Volleyball and Advances to Quarter-finals

The Cuban women’s volleyball team advanced to the quarter-finals Monday, July 20 after beating the Dominican Republic in a great match that went four sets.

Once again the leading edge of the Cuban team was novice Melisa Vargas who scored 23 points. Vargas was supported in her attack by Zulia de la Caridad Matienzo who managed 13 points.

Cuba won with scores of 25-22, 25-22, 21-25 and 25-20 in just over an hour of play.

With their surprise victory over the formidable Dominican women’s volleyball team, the Cubans finished third in their group with five points. In the subsequent tie-breaker, Cuba beat the Canadians who also came forward with one win and two losses.

Despite their loss to Cuba, the Dominicans have secured their spot in the semi-finals, while Argentina who placed second in the same group will see action in the quarter-finals against Puerto Rico, the third-place team from Group B.

Cuba’s rival in the Quarterfinals match on Wednesday, July 22 will be the U.S., who lost to Group B champion Brazil on Monday night. The match takes place at 3:30 pm at the Exhibition Centre at CIBC Pan Am Park.