Led by Nancy Carrillo's 13-point haul, Cuba beat Brazil in straight sets (25-22, 25-19, 25-18) on Monday during the last day of the preliminary phase of the 6th Pan American Women's Volleyball Cup that is underway in the Mexican city of Colima.

With this result, the island's team topped the standings in Group B with a 4-1 win-loss record - similar to that of Brazil and Puerto Rico but with a better point-ration - and advanced directly to the semifinal stage of the event on Thursday.

Also with Monday's victory, the Cuban squad took one of the four tickets up for grabs in the tournament for next year's edition of the annual women's Grand Prix.

In other Group B matches on Monday, Peru dispatched Uruguay 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-13) and Puerto Rico did the same with Canada 25-21, 25-17 and 25-18.

Meanwhile, in Group A, the United States also topped the standings and classified for the Grand Prix with an easy straight-set (25-18, 25-12, 25-11) victory over Mexico that allowed them to finish the preliminary phase with an unbeaten 5-0 win-loss record.

Also in Group A, Costa Rica beat Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 (25-10, 26-24, 25-18) and the Dominican Republic downed Argentina also in straight sets (25-18, 25-18, 25-20).

Now, Cuba and the United States wait for the two other semifinalists while, in quarterfinals, Puerto Rico clashes against the Dominican Republic and Brazil takes on Argentina looking for a spot in the next round and in the 2008 Grand Prix.

Source: Prensa Latina