Canada pull big surprise against Cuba

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico, July 16, 2012 – Canada snapped the four-game winning streak of Cuba by scoring a surprising five-set (25-23, 25-23, 17-25, 22-25, 15-7) victory on Monday.

The Canadians held a 19-6 advantage in blocks en route to their second victory against three losses. Cuba dropped to 4-1.

Sarah Pavan led the winners with 23 points, including 9 blocks, and her sister Rebecca Pavan added 16. Marie-Pier Murray finished 12 while Alicia Perrin and Shanice Marcelle notched 11 apiece.

Cuba’s Yanelis Santos collected 18 points, followed by Wilma Salas and Ana Cleger with 17 and 16 respectively. Daymara Lescay had 13 in the losing cause.

“I am very proud of my team,” Canada’s captain Brittney Page said. “We started and finished strong. We respect Cuba but we kept the pressure on and we deserved to win.”

“It was a bad game for my team” Cuba’s Yuisdey Silie said. “We made many mistakes and Canada played a good tactical game.”

“Everything we did bad yesterday, we did well today,” Canada’s coach Arnd Ludwig said. “Cuba recovered after the second set but we had the right answers.”

“I congratulated Canada for a good match,” Cuba’s Juan Carlos Gala said. “We had a bad start and also in the fifth set. We made mistakes in the crucial moments and our team appeared to be tired after playing five sets yesterday.”