Opposite attacker Fernando Hernandez again led the Cuban attack with 22
points while team captain Wilfredo Leon contributed 16 units to the
winners’ cause.

In other results on Monday, Poland continued their excellent performance
with a straight-set victory (25-15, 25-20, 25-18) over the United States
to stay on top of the standings after seven rounds of play. Iran rolled to
another straight-set victory (25-18, 25-21, 25-15) over Egypt, Italy beat
Serbia 3-1 (25-20, 25-18, 22-25, 25-20), Russia defeated Argentina 3-0
(25-22, 25-23, 25-19), and Japan beat China in straight sets (25-23,
25-20, 26-24).

After these results, Poland tops the general standings with 19 points as a
result of six wins and one loss. Russia is second (18, 6-1) and Brazil is
third (16, 5-2). They are followed by Cuba (14), Italy (14) and Iran (12),
all with five victories and two losses. Closing the standings are the
United States (9, 3-4), Argentina (9, 3-4), Japan (8, 2-5), Serbia (3,
1-6), Egypt (3, 1-6) and China (1, 0-7).

Cuba’s next match is on Tuesday against Russia. Then, they will face China
(Dec. 2), the United States (Dec. 3), and Egypt (Dec. 4).

The event grants tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Games to the top
three finishers, who will join Great Britain as they have already secured
a berth as the host country.

Brazil have won the two last World Cups in 2003 and 2007 and are the
second team in volleyball history to win back-to-back titles after the
former Soviet Union, which won the trophy in 1977 and 1981, along with
1965 and 1991. The only other winners of the tournament have been East
Germany in 1969, USA in 1985, Cuba in 1989, and Italy in 1995.