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Ningbo, Southeast China, May 25, 2005 – With the 2005 World Grand Prix less than a month away, last year’s final round contenders Cuba and China are looking in excellent form at the Shenzhou Cup China International Women's Volleyball Tournament with Cuba becoming the first team to clinch a semifinal berth from Group B while world number one and Olympic champions China are still unbeaten in Group A after collecting their second victory on Wednesday.
Pic: Cuba beat Japan 3-1 (18-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-23)
Olympic bronze medalist Cuba rallied from one set down to beat Japan 3-1 (18-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-23) for their second win in two days and securing a top spot finish in the group, which included three teams. Japan and the Dominican Republic will meet on Thursday for the other ticket to the semifinals.

Nancy Carrillo had 11 kills, seven blocks and four aces to lead Cuba’s scoring with 21 points, while Zoila Barros and Yumilka Ruiz added 14 and 12 points respectively.

Japan started strongly in their opening match at the seven-team tournament. With their famed tireless digging and blitz offence, the Japanese women jumped to a 6-2 lead in the first set and never looked back. Cuba managed to pull within two points at 19-17 but the Asians ran off six of the last seven points to take the first set.

However, the experienced Cuban players gradually got used to the rhythm of the Japanese team and got their powerful spiking going to pull one set back at 25-20. The third set was nearly a Nancy Carrillo solo show, after she helped Cuba pull away from a 5-5 tie to a 14-5 lead and Cuba eased to victory in the third set. Japan fought bravely in the fourth set and stayed within range at 24-23, but Carrillo drove a ball out of bounds to seal the victory for Cuba.

Olympic and World Cup winner’s China also came from behind to beat Bulgaria 3-1 for its second straight win.

The Chinese women, 3-0 winners over the Netherlands on Tuesday, started well before more than 8,000 home fans as they built a 16-12 lead in the first set. However, Bulgaria improved its blocking against Chu Jinling and used a 10-4 run to go into the lead at 22-20. China drew to within one point at 23-22, but a kill by Denitsa Karaulanova and a spiking error from Yang Hao gave Bulgaria the first set 25-22.

Easily taking the second set 25-19, the Chinese women found Bulgaria touch opponents again in the third. After the two sides fought to a 25- 25 tie, Chu Jinling smashed a ball home and let another one go out of bounds to make it two sets to one. In the fourth set, the Chinese continued their momentum as they took the set 25-16 and closed the match in one hour and 38 minutes.

"Bulgaria played very well today and their offence was much quicker than before," said Chinese head coach Chen Zhonghe. "We had ups and downs in the match. We failed to display our advantage in serving and receiving, but I am happy with the young players' performance in my team."

"I am happy with the way we played today," said Bulgaria head coach Miroslav Zhivkov. "It is satisfactory to win one set against China, which is the best team in the world."

In the other match of the day, Poland beat the Netherlands in five sets in preliminary Group A. The Dutch women, who lost to China 3-0 on Tuesday, suffered their second defeat in a row 23-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-14, and 15-11.

China lead Group A with two wins, followed by Bulgaria and Poland with one win and one loss. The Netherlands is at the bottom of the group with two defeats.

"We are still looking for the balance of our team," said Dutch coach Avital Selinger. "Fatigue is part of the reason that we lost, because for a long time we have not played two consecutive games in 24 hours. We are a new team, and we were not consistent enough."