Dominican Republic and Cuba progress to World Cup

Havana, Cuba, June 8, 2015 - Cuba and Dominican Republic booked tickets to the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Cup in Japan as the two top-ranked teams at the NORCECA Final Four Champions Cup that concluded in Havana on Sunday night.

Hosts Cuba defeated the Dominican Republic 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 25-13, 25-23) at Ciudad Deportiva Coliseum to claim the second berth available for the Olympic qualifier. The Dominicans had secured their spot by winning the first set.

Dominican Republic, Cuba and Puerto Rico all finished with a 2-1 win-loss record, with the Dominican team totalling 10 points. Cuba had a 1.06 point-ratio to 1.05 of Puerto Rico as both teams were tied with 9 points. Canada ended at 0-3.

Cuba’s Melissa Vargas, who finished with 67 points in her three matches, was the top scorer of the last contest with 20 points, followed by Alena Rojas and Sulian Matienzo with 13 points apiece. Marianne Fersola tallied 10 points as the Dominican top scorer.

Earlier on Sunday, Puerto Rico did not give Canada any breaks en route to a straight-set 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 26-24) victory.
 
Aurea Cruz had 13 points in the victory, while siblings Karina and Sheila Ocasio each scored 12 points and Stephany Enright contributed 10 points in the victory. Tabitha Love and Jaimie Thibeault had 10 points apiece for Canada.

“Cuba played a good game,” said Marcos Kwiek, the Brazilian coach of the Dominican Republic’s team. “We came to qualify for Japan and we got it despite having many injured players who had been complaining since the first day, and I could not take any risk with them.”

Cuban captain Sulian Matienzo said: “We all knew our performance was decisive and even more as the Puerto Ricans also had their hopes alive just depending on what we could do. So our fate was only in our hands and not anyone else’s. That’s why we are extremely happy.”

Summary of the tournament

Dominican Republic d Canada 3-1 (25-20, 17-25, 25-19, 25-22) on May 5
Puerto Rico d Cuba 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 25-23, 25-17) on May 5

Dominican Republic d Puerto Rico 3-0 (28-26, 25-20, 25-15) May 6
Cuba d Canada 3-1 (21-25, 25-11, 25-22, 25-23) on May 6

Puerto Rico d Canada 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 26-24) on May 7
Cuba d Dominican Republic 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 25-13, 25-23) May 7

Final Positions
1. Dominican Republic
2. Cuba
3. Puerto Rico
4. Canada

Top Scorer by Day
23 - Melissa Vargas of Cuba v Puerto Rico on May 5
24 - Melissa Vargas of Cuba v Canada on May 6
20 - Melissa Vargas of Cuba v Dominican Republic on May 7

Top Scoring Performances
24 - Melissa Vargas of Cuba v Canada on May 6
23 - Melissa Vargas of Cuba v Puerto Rico on May 5
21 - Tabitha Love of Canada v Dominican Republic on May 5
20 - Melissa Vargas of Cuba v Dominican Republic on May 7

Top Blocking Performances
7 - Daymara Lescay of Cuba v Canada on May 6
5 - Sheila Ocasio of Puerto Rico v Cuba on May 5
5 - Daymara Lescay of Cuba v Puerto Rico on May 5
5 - Lisvel Eve of Dominican Republic v Puerto Rico on May 6
5 - Alena Rojas of Cuba v Dominican Republic on May 7

Top Serving Peformances
4 - Melissa Vargas of Cuba v Dominican Republic on May 7
3 - Sheila Ocasio of Puerto Rico v Cuba on May 5
3 - Melissa Vargas of Cuba v Canada on May 6
3 - Sulian Matienzo of Cuba v Canada on May 6
3 - Stephanie Enright of Puerto Rico v Canada on May 7

Top Team Blocking Performances
17 - Cuba v Puerto Rico on May 5
15 - Puerto Rico v Canada on May 7
14 - Cuba v Dominican Republic on May 7
12 - Puerto Rico v Cuba on May 5
12 - Dominican Republic v Puerto Rico on May 6
12 - Cuba v Canada on May 6
12 - Dominican Republic v Cuba on May 7

Top Team Serving Peformances
8 - Cuba v Canada on May 6
8 - Cuba v Dominican Republic on May 7
7 - Canada v Dominican Republic on May 5
6 - Puerto Rico v Cuba on May 5

Highest Scoring Sets
28-26 Dominican Republic v Puerto Rico (1st Set) on May 6
26-24 Puerto Rico v Canada (3rd Set) on May 7

Highest Scoring Matches
180- Puerto Rico d Cuba 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 25-23, 25-17) on May 5