Monday, October 31, Nagoya.
Cuba were made to work hard for an opening victory against dark horses Turkey in Nagoya.
Cuba eventually came through their Group D encounter 25-20, 27-25, 25-21, but the Turks, playing in their first World Championships, showed why they have no reason to fear the occasion.
The Cubans took an early lead in the first set, with both teams trading heavy-hitting blows in the opening stages.
Natalia Hanikoglu of Turkey and Cuba's Rosir Calderon were both producing huge spikes, but it was Cuba who opened up a 16-9 lead going into the second TTO.
Strong play at the net by Nesilhan Darnel and Seda Tokatlioglu forced Turkey back into the reckoning, but it could not prevent Cuba from taking the first set 25-20 after another bullet spike by Calderon.
The match continued with the same intensity after the restart, with neither side managing to pull away and open up a lead.
But Turkey threatened to do just that, going into the second TTO with a 16-12 advantage after some fine play by Darnel.
The Cubans fought back, however, as Nancy Carrillo began to run through her full repertoire of winning shots.
Turkey then had the chance to take the set at 25-24, but Cuba again came from behind to overturn the lead and win the second set 27-25.
Cuba tried to pull away and close the game early on in the third set, but again they were pegged back by big spikes from Tokatlioglu, Darnel and Aysun Ozbek.
Calderon was finding space on the left flank, but Turkey refused to be shaken off, keeping touch with more power play from Tokatlioglu.
But eventually the breakthrough came, Yumilka Ruiz blazing the ball into the Turkish court to seal a hard-fought opening win for Cuba.
