Veterans Yumilka Ruiz and Nancy Carrillo each scored 12 points as Cuba defeated the USA Women’s National Volleyball Team Tuesday night (June 14) at the Pan American Cup.

Ruiz had eight kills, two service aces and two blocks in the 30-28, 26-24, 25-22 victory as the Cubans clinched the top spot in Group B, an automatic berth in Friday’s tournament semifinals and a trip to next year’s World Grand Prix.

The Pan American Cup serves as a qualifier for the 2006 World Grand Prix for the top three NORCECA teams and the best South American team.

Carrillo had nine kills, two aces and one block as Cuba finished preliminary play with a perfect 5-0 record.

Nancy Metcalf ( Hull, Iowa) scored a match-high 14 points on 10 kills, three blocks and one ace for the United States , which suffered its first loss in five matches.

"We entered the match thinking we could play with the Cubans," said middle blocker Elisha Thomas (Grass Valley, Calif.), who scored five points. "Although we lost, we now know we can play with them. We just have to learn how to finish games. They are very experienced and know how to do this."

Jane Collymore (Englewood, Colo.) added 10 points on nine kills and one ace for Team USA, which finished as the No. 2 team in Group B. The Americans will now play the No. 3 team from Group A, which has yet to be determined. Possible opponents include Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Argentina .

"We have spent so much time in preparation for all matches – especially Cuba – that we really know very little about the teams in the other group except Brazil," said first year Team USA head coach "Jenny" Lang Ping. "Now we have two days to prepare for our next opponent."

Wednesday was scheduled to be a rest day for all tournament teams, but due to a protest being upheld, Venezuela and Puerto Rico will replay the fifth set from their match on June 12 tomorrow at 10 a.m.

USA Women Beat Puerto Rico, Qualify for 2006 World Grand Prix

USA Women’s National Volleyball Team qualified for the 2006 World Grand Prix Thursday night following a 3-1 win over Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals of the Pan American Cup.

Nancy Metcalf ( Hull, Iowa) scored a match-high 19 points, Jennifer Joines ( Milpitas, Calif.) added 16 points and Jane Collymore (Englewood, Calif.) pitched in with 14 points as Team USA overcame a slow start to post a 24-26, 25-21, 25-22, 25-20 victory.

Stanford-bound Cynthia Barboza (Long Beach, Calif.), who has been hampered by a knee injury, came off the bench to spark the comeback for the United States and finished the match with eight points on seven kills and one block.

The American’s win, combined with Brazil’s 3-0 decision over Canada, advanced the winners to the tournament semifinals scheduled for Friday night. The United States will play the Dominican Republic , while Cuba will take on Brazil.

The USA is also guaranteed of being one of the top three NORCECA finishers at the Pan American Cup (along with Cuba and the Dominican Republic) and earns an automatic berth in next year’s premier women’s tournament, the World Grand Prix. Brazil is assured of being the top finisher from the South America zone and also qualified for next year’s Grand Prix.

"We went into the match prepared, but the pressure of the match seemed to affect us at times early in the match," said Team USA setter Lindsey Berg (Honolulu, Hawaii ), a 2004 Olympian. "Strangely the emotion level of both teams was surprisingly low in the beginning of the match. There was a good crowd, but they didn't seem to be pulling for either team. Fortunately, we came through and obtained the goal of this trip -- to qualify for the 2006 World Grand Prix. Now we can play loose in the semis and grow as a team."

Metcalf, who played professionally in Puerto Rico last season, blasted 16 kills and three service aces in the win. Joines had nine kills, a match-high five blocks and two aces, while University of Florida All-American Collymore registered 14 kills.

Former Florida star Aury Cruz scored a team-high 17 points on 15 kills and two blocks to lead Puerto Rico. Jetzabel Del Valle added 13 points on 11 kills and two blocks.

Dominican Republic Downs USA Women in Pan Am Cup Semifinals

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – Yudelkys Bautista and Cosiris Rodriguez each scored 18 points to lead the Dominican Republic to a 3-1 win over the USA Women’s National Volleyball Team in the semifinals of the Pan American Cup Friday night.

Annerys Vargas tallied 17 points and Prisilla Rivera added 14 points in the 25-17, 20-25, 25-18, 25-23 victory as the Dominicans advanced to Saturday’s championship match against Cuba . The Cubans defeated Brazil , 3-0, in Friday’s other semifinal.

Nancy Metcalf ( Hull, Iowa) scored 18 points on 13 kills, three blocks and two service aces to lead Team USA, which plays Brazil on Saturday in the third-place match.

"I thought we came out a little timid, but we fought our way back into the first set, but just came up short," said Patrice Arrington ( Oxon Hill, Md.), who scored four points. "The second set we played very well. We weren't bad in the third and fourth, but the Dominicans raised the level of their game."

Cynthia Barboza (Long Beach, Calif.) scored 12 points on 10 kills and two blocks, Jennifer Joines (Milpitas, Calif.) added nine points on seven kills and two blocks and Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.) chipped in with five points on five kills.

Barboza and Akinradewo will both be freshmen at Stanford in the fall.

On Thursday night the USA Women qualified for the 2006 World Grand Prix by defeating Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals, 3-1.

USA Women Finish Fourth at Pan Am Cup after Loss to Brazil

Regiane Bidias scored 17 points and Suelle Oliveira added 16 points as Brazil defeated the USA Women’s National Volleyball Team in the third-place match at the Pan American Cup on Saturday.

Fernanda Rodrigues posted 14 points and Thaisa Menezes chipped in with 10 in the 25-22, 21-25, 25-22, 27-25 victory as the Brazilians finished the tournament with a record of 6-2.

In the championship match, Cuba swept the Dominican Republic to win the tournament for the second-straight year.

Nancy Metcalf ( Hull, Iowa) and Jennifer Joines (Milpitas, Calif.) each scored a match-high 18 points to lead Team USA, which lost in second-straight match to finish the tournament with a record of 5-3.

"While we are very disappointed in the outcome of our last two matches, given the relative lack of experience of this squad, I'm happy that we accomplished our goal of qualifying for the 2006 World Grand Prix," said Metcalf, who had 17 kills and one block.

Metcalf earned Pan American Cup “Best Scorer” honors after leading all players in total points, while setter Lindsey Berg ( Honolulu, Hawaii) captured “Best Setter” accolades for the third-straight year.

Joines had 14 kills, three blocks and one service ace and Patrice Arrington (Oxon Hill, Md. ) added 12 points on 11 kills and one ace for the United States .

Jane Collymore (Englewood, Colo.) and Elisha Thomas (Grass Valley, Calif.) each added 10 points for the Americans, who next travel to Ningbo, China , to compete against the Netherlands, Thailand and China in the first week of the 2005 World Grand Prix from June 24-26.

For more information, go to the USA Volleyball web site at www.usavolleyball.org .