Cuba Edges Russia to Retain World Cup Volleyball

All-conquering Cuba defeated hot favourites Russia to win the World Cup women's volleyball tournament for the fourth time in a row on Tuesday.

The Cuban women regained their pride by scoring a 25-19, 25-15, 25-19 victory over the European champions who are the current world number one team.

Cuba ended the 12-team round robin with 11 straight wins, beating Russia into second with a 10-1 win-loss record. The 1995 Cup runners-up Brazil finished third.

Cuba, Russia and Brazil have also qualified for the Sydney Olympic Games by finishing in the top three.

Following are the final standings of women's volleyball World Cup tournament in Nagoya and Osaka, Japan, after Tuesday's last matches (tabulated under games played, won, lost, sets for, sets against and points):

1. Cuba 11 11 0 33 5 22

2. Russia 11 10 1 30 9 21

3. Brazil 11 9 2 29 8 20

4. South Korea 11 7 4 24 14 18

5. China 11 7 4 24 15 18

6. Japan 11 7 4 22 18 18

7. Italy 11 5 6 19 21 16

8. Croatia 11 4 7 15 24 15

9. United States 11 3 8 17 26 14

10. Peru 11 2 9 11 28 13

11. Argentina 11 1 10 7 30 12

12. Tunisia 11 0 11 0 33 11

Following are the list of players who have been awarded for their performance at the women's volleyball World Cup that concluded on Tuesday:

Individual awards:

Most valuable player: Leiva Taismary Aguero, Cuba

Best spiker: Lioubov Chachkova-Sokolova, Russia

Best receiver: Lioubov Chachkova-Sokolova, Russia

Best setter: Elena Vassilevskaia, Russia

Best server: Leiva Taismary Aguero, Cuba

Best blocker: Mirka Francia Vasconcelo, Cuba

Best digger: Hiroko Tsukumo, Japan

Best scorer: Barbara Jelic, Croatia


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