USA secures Pool B and makes the semifinals

MAYAGÜEZ, Puerto Rico, August 31, 2011. – Olympic gold medalists USA defeated Cuba 3-1 (24-26, 25-23, 25-23, 25-17) capturing Pool B and cruising directly into the semifinals of the Men’s NORCECA Continental Championship at “Palacio de los Deportes” of Mayagüez.

Cuba had a wonderful comeback in the first set, losing 14-24 and finally winning 26-24, but not enough to stop the American’s solid blocks and teamwork. United States is the winner of Pool B with a perfect 3-0 win-loss record, while Cubans end in second to face Mexico in the quarterfinals tomorrow.

Mathew Anderson lead USA with 23 points, 22 in attacks and 1 in serve. For Cuba, the top scorer was Wilfredo Leon with 19 points.

“Both teams are competing this summer and the next one to qualify for the Olympics head to head and we both tried to win tonight. It is a lesson for us to know how to close a set as Cubans do” words of the American captain Clayton Stanley.

For the losers, Wilfredo Leon said “this is the toughest match of the tournament so far and we take it as one more experience to prepare ourselves for tournaments, not only in this one”.

Alan Knipe, USA’s coach indicated “at this stage every team is invested in the match and that’s what we saw today, you must finish a set and not lose the momentum; Cubans resolved in the first set and I believe it’s a good lesson for both.”

“First of all I congratulate the American team, they were excellent in all areas and we couldn’t catch up with their rhythm” said Orlando Samuels, Cuban coach.”