Kim Staelens came off the bench to help the home side but they eventually went down to Cuba

Rotterdam, Netherlands, October 14, 2010 – Cuba continued their preparations for the 2010 FIVB Women's World Championship by beating the Netherlands 3-2 (16-25, 25-23, 23-25, 27-25, 15-11) in a thrilling encounter in Rotterdam.

Both sides are shaping up for the event in Japan from October 29–November 14 with the Netherlands grouped with defending champions Brazil, Italy, Kenya, Puerto Rico and the Czech Republic in Pool B, and Cuba placed in Pool C with USA, Germany, Kazakhstan, Thailand and Croatia.

The Netherlands came roaring out in Wednesday evening's contest and quickly established a 16-11 lead. From there they maintained their rhythm and saw out the set in comfortable fashion, winning 25-16.

However, Cuba woke up in the second and were more of a match for their Dutch opponents. The two sides traded points early on before the visitors pulled away at the set's conclusion to draw level. Cuba's Kenia Carcaces almost took her team to third-set supremacy too but experienced Dutch player Kim Staelens drew her side level and the hosts eventually took the set.

The Netherlands had the chance to see the game out in the fourth but gave away two match points as Cuba took the game to a tie-breaker. Carcaces was again instrumental for the Cubans as the Dutch saw the game slide away from the then, the Caribbean team seeing out the match at 15-11.