Cuba secured a significant victory over Olympic champion France with a 3-2 win (25-18, 20-25, 23-25, 25-22, 15-10) in the second week of the Volleyball Nations League in Ottawa. This win enhances Cuba’s chances of qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, although a decisive match against Serbia awaits in the final week. Cuba now holds a 4-4 record.
Cuba’s outside hitters excelled, with Marlon Yant scoring 23 points (19 attacks, 3 blocks, one ace) and Miguel Ángel López adding 21 points (16 attacks, 2 blocks, 3 aces). For France, opposite Théo Faure led with 20 points (20 attacks, 3 aces), alongside outside hitter Timothée Carle, who also scored 20 points (18 attacks, 2 blocks).
In other news, the Slovenian national volleyball team concluded the second tournament of the Nations League Pool 3 in Japan with a victory over Bulgaria. Slovenia, with a current record of seven wins and one loss, is on track for the Paris Olympics, further bolstered by this win. The decisive final week will begin on June 18 in Ljubljana, where Slovenia will compete against Italy, Argentina, Serbia, and Cuba for Olympic qualification.
