USA Continues Its Cuban Blockade
Written by Daniel Turner, Tuesday June 29 2010
Cuba’s women’s volleyball held a measure of dominance over USA prior to the Olympic Semifinals; having swept USA in the pool finals before having the trend reversed in the semis. Even as late as last year Cuba still held command of their meetings by coming back from two set deficits to defeat USA twice during the NORCECA Continental Championship.
This year Team USA has staked their claim at dominance by beating their NORCECA rivals twice this month. On June 12 they beat Cuba in the semis of the Montreux Volley Masters in Montreux, Switzerland. They had to settle for silver against China, but dispatching a rival and booting them from medal contention is always a nice feeling.
This past weekend the USA women led by Megan Hodge’s 16 points once again banished Cuba from medal contention at the 2010 Pan American Cup. In Tijuana, Mexico, Team USA both captured bronze, their first medal at the tournament since 2004, and secured a spot in the 2011 FIVB World Grand Prix. A loss to the Dominican Republic stopped USA from advancing further in the medal matches, but securing a berth in the World Grand Prix eases the way going into future competitions. Head Coach Hugh McCutheon was happy with the win over Cuba and satisfied that the team has qualified for the World’s.
While already qualified for the 2011 FIVB World Grand Prix, Team USA is preparing for this year’s World’s to be held on August 6-29. The team will warm up for the World’s by staging two exhibition matches. The exhibitions feature Team Red vs. Team Blue at Irvine Valley College on July 17 and at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano on July 24.
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