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  • 10 / 11 / 2006

By ALFONSO NACIACENO

The popular Cuban female volleyball team will play its first game in the Japan World Championship on October 31, probably with four of the six starters from the Germany 2002 competition.

Captain Yumilka Ruiz, centers Nancy Carrillo and Zoila Barros, and passer Liana Mesa, who participated in the final match "a 3-2 victory over South Korea that gave Cuba fifth place in Germany" are still on the squad and carry with them the brunt of the hope for a good showing in Japan.

Nancy was the top server at the recent Italy 2006 Grand Prix held in the city of Reggio Calabria. Also performing consistently in Italy was reserve spiker Rosir Calderon, who will take the place of Martha Sanchez who played in the 2002 championship. The sixth position will most likely go to Daimi Ramirez, but Yanelis Santos (an excellent server) could alternate with Mesa or Ramirez.

Coach Luis Felipe Calderon hopes that Zoila Barros, recovering from an ankle sprain at the Grand Prix, is ready to compete. She is on an intense rehabilitation program and is trying to lose some weight, important for the young, 30-year-old veteran as the excess weight makes her more prone to injury and slows her movements. Rachel Sanchez, who joined the team practicing in Russia, and Yeniesey Gonzalez, are the other two centers, but they have yet to reach the skill level of Carrillo and Barros.

Of the 12 women that played at the 2002 championship, reserve player Yaima Ortiz is another who hopes to be available for Japan, although she has had recent knee trouble. Kenia Carcases (reserve) had good opportunities at the Italy Grand Prix but couldnt come up with the big plays when the team was under pressure.

The wide distance between the starters and the reserves on the Cuban squad is a concern because Brazil, China and Russia, the islands main rivals for the medals, have more balanced teams. The United States and the Dominican Republic are also tough rivals.

BETTER CONCENTRATION

If the Cuban womens team only reached fourth place at the Grand Prix it was because they failed to exhibit a consistent game, and lost concentration at the crucial moments, like in the fifth set against Italy when they played for the bronze medal. They had previously beaten the host team twice in the preliminary rounds.

On several occasions coach Luis Felipe Calderon noted that poor concentration led to the Cubans losses. This reporter feels that besides being more centered on the game, on and off the court, the team must study its rivals more carefully.

The 24 teams to compete at the Japan World Championship are currently in full practice. The Grand Prix events, like the recent one in Italy, serve as a gage of the worlds best 12 squads be it before a World Championship, Cup or Olympic Games and this year was no exception. In fact, the results at Reggio Calabria produced some changes in the International Volleyball Federation rankings.

China, which did not win a medal in the GP, remains first with 253 points. Brazil, the winner in Italy, is still second with 233. Russia, which finished runner-up moved from sixth to third place with 215 points. Italy dropped a notch after its third place showing and is now fourth at 214. Cuba, which had been fourth, is now fifth with 209 and the United States a ways back in sixth with 188 points.

Source: Periodico26.cu


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