Russia finish great weekend with 3-1 defeat of Cuba
Russia beat Cuba 3-1 (25-17, 25-14, 16-25, 25-17) in their FIVB Grand Prix match on Sunday to complete an excellent weekend on home soil.
The Russians have won all three of their games in Ekateringburg, pushing them up the standings into eighth place. Cuba, however, have lost all six of their matches so far, and remain in 18th.
Russia took control in the first set, leading 8-3, with Natalia Goncharova scoring heavily, and won it 25-17.
The second set was very similar, with the Russians building on a 8-3 lead again. Despite the excellent spiking of Melissa Teresa Vargas Abreu, Cuba couldn’t keep up, and a superb attack from Anna Matienko clinched the set, 25-14.
Cuba fought back in set three, leading 8-5 thanks to more great play from Vargas Abreu, and too many Russian mistakes. They won 16-25, to make it 2-1.
Cuba started very well in the fourth set, but errors began to creep in, and Russia’s confidence returned. The hosts ran up to 16-12, and with Goncharova dominating, they won the set 25-17, and the match.
Goncharova was top scorer with 20 point. The best scorer for Cuba was Melissa Teresa Vargas Abreu, with 18 points. 3,900 spectators watched the match.
