Cuba was the best team of NORCECA at World Grand Prix 

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, September 11, 2006.- Cuba was the best team of NORCECA Confederation at the 2006 World Grand Prix with a fourth place in  the annual women’s competition of FIVB.

The Olympic bronze medallists recovered from losing their first two matches and made it to the Final Round with a 6-3 record.

Once in Reggio Calabria, Cuba opened the Final Six Round losing to Olympic champions China 3-1 (25-19, 21-25, 25-23, 25-16) in Pool A, but came back on the shoulders of Yumilka Ruiz and Rosir Calderon to defeat Italy 3-1 (26-24, 19-25, 25-23, 25-23) advancing to a semi final match against Brazil, winner of Pool B.

The veteran Ruiz turned the clock back with a dazzling performance to score 22 points, and Calderon was not far behind with 21.

In the first semi-final, eventual champions Brazil blew Cuba off court in 65 minutes with a straight-sets victory, 25-20, 25-15, 25-18 setting the stage for a rematch against Italy, loser to Russia in five sets (21-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-15, 15-10).

The bronze medal match to start the afternoon had been worthy of a final. The Italians looked to have the match wrapped up when they won the first two sets 25-17, 25-15.

The Cubans appeared to be lacking in motivation, but they finally found some fire in the third set and took the next two 25-23, 25-23 to force the tie-break.

But it was Italy who finished the stronger, and Captain Simona Rinieri-Dennis closed out the set 15-11 on the Azzurre's second match point to spark wild scenes of celebrations inside the Palacalafiore.

Elisa Togut and Nancy Carrillo both scored 21 points for their respective teams in a bruising battle between these two fierce rivals.

Cuban Nancy Carrillo was the best server of the final phase of the competition with 13 aces winning a prize of US$5,000 while her team won a purse of US$55,000 as the fourth place ranked side, the same position attained the previous year.