(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-27 10:24

XIAMEN, East China -- Olympic champions China claimed the third straight win over Cuba in the women's volleyball friendly series between the two teams here in Xiamen, Fujian province on Tuesday.

Wang Yimei (R) of China spikes the ball agaisnt Cuba in the women's volleyball friendly series in Xiamen of East China's Fujian province, Feb. 26, 2008. China clinched the third straight win. [Xinhua]

Unlike the two-match winning streak in previous legs at Fuzhou and Jinjiang, the Chinese team overcame some dicey moments in the match as they fought back from 2-1 down to beat the improving Cubans 25-23, 19-25, 23-25, 25-18, 15-11 in almost two hours.

To shape up the Olympic squad, China's head coach Chen Zhonghe fielded many replacements including wing spiker Li Juan, teenage setter Wei Qiuyue, middle blockers Xu Yunli and Ma Yunwen, and opposite Liu Yanan.

Team captain Feng Kun, who has just returned from a leg injury sidelining her for the past 2007, was rested all through the match, while comeback middle blocker Zhao Ruirui, out of action for three and a half years due to knee injury, only played in first two sets.

"I sent many young players onto the court, they did a good job, although some of them are under-performing," said Chen. "Had the Cuban team made less mistakes in serving, they would win at last. The Cubans lost 25 points in serve."

"Anyway the result was satisfactory, I need time and competition to groom my line-up for the Olympics.

"I hope the matches can help us expose the weak points and improve."

To a thunderous crowd of the 6,000-capacity Xiamen's Jimei Sports Center, the new-looking home team never seemed the way they were in their first two victories.

After claiming a shaky opening set at 25-23, the Chinese girls dropped next two sets at 25-19 and 25-23.

China kept cool to take the fourth set at 25-18 and went on to win an error-studded tiebreak at 15-11 following a Xu Yunli block.

Newly rising wing spiker Wang Yimei became the team's top scorer again notching up 12 points.

The series will be suspended for two days' break, and the rivalry will be resumed in Zhejiang's Jiande, followed by the last two matches in Shaoxing and Hangzhou.

Currently there are a total of 19 players in the Chinese side, out of which only 12 can make the final roster for the Beijing Olympics.