Bulgaria claim 2nd win, Cuba first defeated at volleyball World League
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Bulgaria recorded their second win over the Netherlands away in Apeldoorn at the volleyball World League Pool A on Sunday, while in Pool D Poland hand Cuba the first defeat.
Bulgaria, who won a convincing straight sets 25-21, 25-20, 25-22 victory, took a quick lead early on, and with their powerful attacking and steady passing they made the hosts work hard for every point.
The sides were even early in the second set before the spike of Dutch captain Rob Bontje sent the Netherlands to lead.
Outside hitter Matey Kaziyski, however, helped bring the visitors back into the game and despite a late Dutch fightback, Bulgaria came out the winners.
The Netherlands used powerful spikes to take the side into an early lead in the third, but Bulgaria came back with the hosts' error strewn period and wrapped up the set and the match.
"I definitely did not expect to win two matches in straight sets here," Bulgaria captain Vladimir Nikolov said. "We are still growing as a team, our preparation was quite short."
After three rounds, Brazil tops Pool A, followed by the Bulgaria while the Netherlands occupy the third and South Korea props up the group in last place.
In Pool D, Poland handed Cuba their first defeat of the 2010 FIVB World League with a 27-25, 25-23, 25-12 win over the hosts on Sunday in Havana.
Cuba suffered in the opening set with a number of service errors and was not successful in blocking. Poland managed four points from their blocking and finally went ahead early to win the set.
Cuba dominated the second set before Poland rallied back at the end to allow them to briefly take the lead and the win over an unlucky Cuba side.
In the third set, Poland emerged determined to finish the game and dominated giving the Cubans huge problems with their receptions. With Cuba exhausted, the visitors took the set to see out the game following a pulsating match.
In the other match in Pool D, Argentina lost to Germany 32-34, 18-25, 25-18, 28-30.
Italy beat Pool B leaders Serbia on Sunday in a five-set thriller 21-25, 25-20, 25-18, 20-25, 15-13 to move to one point behind Serbia at the top of the group.
