Cuban Men Seek Olympic Volleyball Slot, fall to Canada

HAVANA TIMES, May 10 — The Cuban men’s volleyball team will face Trinidad and Tobago today in the quarterfinals of the NORCECA Olympic-qualifying volleyball tournament being held in the US city of Long Beach, reported the Prensa Latina news agency.

The islanders fell yesterday to Canada three sets to zero in the battle for the top of Group B. In what was described as a “non-convincing” match, despite the special efforts of Fernando Hernandez (13 points), the team committed 21 unforced errors.

If the Cuban team wins today, they could proceed to the semifinals tomorrow against rivals such as the US or Canada.

Cuba is seeking its return to the Olympics after its last appearance in Sydney in 2000, which means the island’s squad will have to win in the finals of this tournament, which will award only one team a spot in the 2012 London Olympics.

The Cuban women’s volleyball squad has one more upcoming chance to win a ticket to London.