Top guns expected to duel in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, June 7, 2010 - The match-up between Poland and Puerto Rico scheduled on June 10-11 at Roberto Clemente Coliseum features two of the top-scoring guns after the first two weekends of action in the Intercontinental Round of FIVB Volleyball World League.

Poland’s Bartosz Kurek is the top scorer of the competition with 78 points in four matches for an average of 19.5 per game, while Puerto Rican Hector Soto ranks as the third behind Mikko Oivanen of Finland with 69 (17.25).

Another player among the top-10 scorers is Poland’s Bartman Zbigniew with a total of 62 points (15.5).

Puerto Rican Roberto Muñiz is third among the best servers with 8 aces, while Grzegorz Kosok and Marcin Mozdzonek of Poland are tied for eighth place in the blocking division with 10 apiece for an average of 0.77 per set.

After winning their first three points with a 3-0 victory over USA in the opening match of Pool A as hosts in Lodz, the Poland team lost by identical score in the next match with the American side. Then, they traveled to Rio de Janeiro and lost two 3-1 contests at Maracanazinho Coliseum to the two-time FIVB World League defending champions Brazil.

FIVB World League debutants Puerto Rico are still looking to grab their first points of the campaign, though they are showing signs of improvement. After losing two 3-0 matches against Brazil in the first weekend, the Puerto Ricans lost 3-1 in two well fought clashes with USA.

“We are trying to retain the good things we acquired in the past games and add up a more precise blocking and effectiveness in our services,” Puerto Rico’s coach Carlos Cardona said. “I hope that our guys stay hungry for the victory”.