Kazakhstan
The home-side surged to an early lead (8:3) with Irina Shenberger and Alena Omelchenko leading the attacks. Errors proved costly for Cuba, as they could not set up their hitters while Omelchenko continued to score to close the first set 25-20 for the hosts.
Cuba later brought in their trademark power offence, with Vargas Abreu and Yoana Palacios Mendoza hitting their targets and the young Cuban team who put in a number of key blocks that allowed them to win the second set 25-17.
In the third set Kazakhstan began to guard the net better and managed to secure an 8-4 lead by the first technical time out. Jarlagassova and Shenberger continued as the prime weapons in the Kazakh’s offence. The hosts edged ahead 16-15 edge by the second TTO. A block by Giel Ramos made it 23-23, where each point was hotly contested thereafter. An attack error then cost Cuba the third set, 30-28.
Jarlagassova once again led the Kazakhstan offense in the fourth set and despite Giel Ramos and Vargas Abreu upped their attacks to keep Cuba within distance at 14-14. Blocking paved the way for a Kazakhstan rally, while Cuba’s floor defence became to flag and the home-side finally captured victory with a 25-20 win in the final set.
Most efficient in Kazakhstan were Jarlagassova with 17 and Nassedkina with 12 points. In Cuba, Vargas scored 19 and Orta 16 points.
For more news from this competition, click on World Grand Prix 2013.
See the profiles of Kazakhstan and Cuba, also the profiles of Jarlagassova and Vargas.
