The U.S. national team recorded a convincing 3-0 (25:21, 25:21, 25:19) victory over Cuba in a match from the second week of the Volleyball Nations League, played in Orléans (France).
The Americans controlled the match throughout and deservedly achieved their fourth success since the start of the tournament. After this victory, the U.S. team now has 4 wins, 1 loss, and 12 points, which lifts them to second place in the VNL temporary standings.
The success also brought a significant bonus in the world rankings. The Americans gained 4.05 points and advanced one position to third place in the world standings with a total of 335.68 points.
For Cuba, this defeat is their fifth in a row since the start of the competition. The Caribbean team remains the only one without a win in the VNL and is firmly in last place in the standings. Additionally, the Cubans lost one position in the world rankings and are now 17th with 208.18 points.
The U.S. victory has a double value – besides cementing the team's place among the VNL leaders, it returned the Americans to the Top 3 in world volleyball. For Cuba, the situation is becoming increasingly worrisome, as the team continues to accumulate losses and lose positions both in the tournament and in the world hierarchy.
Match statistics
| Category | Cuba | USA |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | 36 | 35 |
| Block | 4 | 10 |
| Ace | 4 | 1 |
| Points from opponent's errors | 17 | 29 |
| Total points | 61 | 75 |
Although Cuba scored one more point in attack (36 vs 35) and was more effective from the serve (4 vs 1 ace), the Americans made a huge difference in blocking, where they dominated with 10 vs 4 points. Additionally, the Cubans committed too many inaccuracies, which brought a total of 29 points to the USA from opponent's errors against only 17 for the Caribbeans.
| Category | Cuba | USA |
|---|---|---|
| Digs | 36 | 40 |
| Receptions | 60 | 44 |
| Organized attacks | 82 | 64 |
USA demonstrated better defensive organization with 40 digs against 36 for Cuba. Although the Cubans had more receptions and rallies, they failed to convert these statistics into points. The Americans were significantly more effective in key moments and punished every weakness of their opponent.
The top scorer for the winners was Haines with 14 points, while DeFalco added 10. For Cuba, the best scorer was Masso with 11 points, while Concepcion finished with 9.
