Sosa steps up in straight-set triumph of Argentina

Tokyo, Japan, August 23, 2015 – Emilce Sosa topped all scorers with 17 points to lead Argentina to a 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-23) over Cuba in the first round of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Cup at the Yoyogi National Stadium on Sunday.

Sosa tallied 10 spikes, five blocks and two aces to lead the Argentine squad to their first victory in the tournament. Cubans Alena Rojas Orta and Daymara Lescay Cajigal each scored 10 points.

Argentina built a 6-1 lead in the first set, setting up a wall at the net that restrained the Cuban attackers. Argentina succeeded on their defence tactic and extended it to an 8-2 advantage at the first technical timeout. The Cubans were hounded by their errors from the attack and service lines that allowed Argentina to pull away and secure the set 25-15.

Cuba came back in the second set with a much more organised offence to lead 8-6 in the first technical timeout. Regla Gracia struggled on her attacks from the flank that shifted the lead in favour of Argentina 13-11. Argentina protected their lead all the way to seal the set victory 25-21. Cuba trailed Argentina but the South American squad still fared better in the third set 25-23.