The Cuban national men's volleyball team beat Mexico in straight sets (25-19, 25-23, 25-20) in the opening game of the Olympic qualifier of the North, Central American and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) that began on Sunday in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

According to the website of the event, the Cuban attack was led by Henry Bell and Raidel Corrales, with 12 points apiece.

The United States and Puerto Rico, fourth and sixth-place finishers at the World Cup last year in Japan, are Cuba's main rivals on this occasion.

In other results on Sunday, the Americans swept the Dominican Republic in straight sets and Canada did the same with Trinidad and Tobago also in three sets.

Eight teams are taking part in the event divided into two groups. Pool A is comprised of United States, Dominican Republic, Barbados and host Puerto Rico while Pool B includes Cuba, Canada, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago.

Cuba faces Canada on Monday and Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday in the last day of the preliminary round.

Cuba did not participate in the World Cup last year and placed third at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.


(Tiempo21.cu)