Bari, Italy, September 24, 2014 – Puerto Rico routed Cuba in straight sets (25-22, 27-25, 25-19) on the second day of FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship at PalaFlorio in Bari on Wednesday. This is Puerto Rico's first victory of the tournament following a 3-0 defeat against China. Key points:· For the first time on Pool D, a set has ended to advantage-points.· Puerto Rican sisters Sheila and Karina Ocasio played together during the match.· In 1974, Cuba beat Puerto Rico 3-0 in their only previous World Championship meeting.· Sheila Ocasio has been shown the first yellow card of this Pool.· Puerto Rico won both matches against Cuba in the 2014 World Grand Prix (at home).
Cuba took a 5-3 lead in the opening set and Yamila Hernandez's block made it 8-5 in favor of Cuba at the first technical timeout. Thanks to Cuban errors, Puerto Rico went ahead at 16-14. A block of Stephanie Enright and good spiking by Karina Ocasio stood out (21-18). Mieles's team closed the set (25-22).
There was little to separate the two teams in the first phase of the second set. Locked at 15-15, an error of setter Natalia Valentin put Cuba ahead 21-18. But Ocasio sisters led their team to set's victory (26-24).
In third set Enright reaped another ace and Puerto Rico had match point at 24-18 before wrapping up the victory on a fast attack by Lynda Morales.
Karina Ocasio was the top scorer for Puerto Rico with 24 points while Melissa Vargas got 14 points for Cuba.