Cuba, ranked 15th in the world, defeated hosts Canada, who are tenth, with a surprisingly comfortable 25-15, 25-21, 25-21 victory in the final of the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament in front of a full house at the Saville Sports Centre of Edmonton to keep alive their hopes for a first medal since Montreal 1976.

Rolando Cepeda registered 21 points, including five aces, to spearhead the victory, followed by Osmany Uriarte, Luis Sosa and Javier Jiménez.

They contributed respective hauls of eight, seven and six points, respectively.

“In 2012 we lost the chance [to qualify for the Olympics] in a five-set match with Germany," said Cuban captain Rolando Cepeda.

"We went out looking for this victory.

"We had suffered many losses to the Canadians and it is the first time we get a win like this against them." 

As second place team in the competition, Canada will have a second chance to earn a ticket to Rio at the World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Japan next May.

They will be joined there by Mexico, who enjoyed a thrilling five-set victory over Puerto Rico in the battle for third place. 

Brazil qualified automatically as hosts.

The United States and Italy  have also qualified after finishing first and second in last year's International Volleyball Federation World Cup.

Argentina were the first country to reach Rio 2016 via the continental qualifying route after winning the South American tournament in Maiquetía in  Venezuela last October. 

Russia joined them by winning the European qualifying tournament in Berlin earlier today. 

Argentina's women, meanwhile, enjoyed an impressive 25-20, 25-20, 25-14 win over Peru in the final of the South American Volleyball Confederation qualifier in their home city of Bariloche.

It follows a near-perfect tournament in which they only dropped one set, against Venezuela, across four matches.

It will be the first time Argentina’s women, known as "Las Panteras" or "The Panthers", have played at the Olympic Games.

They will join hosts and continental rivals Brazil in Rio de Janeiro this summer for one of the most hotly events of the Olympics.

China and Serbia are the other teams already confirmed for the 12-team women’s Olympic tournament.

Peru and third placed Colombia will have another chance to qualify at the World Olympic Qualification Tournament next year.