Tag: Norceca

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, December 19, 2024. – The Changas de Naranjito roster for the upcoming Women’s Volleyball Superior League (LVSF) season, which begins Friday, January 17, features a deep lineup filled with experience and a group of players who play the game the right way. This creates a culture of responsibility and mutual respect.

Jamille Torres Rosario, returning to his hometown to coach women’s volleyball, shared: “When we talk about experience, everyone thinks of Aury. Having her back is essential for us because, in addition to the experience and seriousness she brings to the game, she provides control, something we lacked last year. But aside from this great veteran, we have players like Génesis Castillo, Jennymar Santiago, and Stephanie ‘Bebi’ Salas, who also bring emotional stability. This year, we’ll have Génesis Collazo from the start of the season, one of the best opposite hitters on the team. Young talent can’t be overlooked either; we have promising players like Kiaraliz Pérez and Andrea Serra, who had a great season last year, and we hope she can improve even more this year.”

Torres Rosario, who previously led the Changas in 2021, has been focusing these past weeks on the physical and technical aspects of the players to ensure they’re ready for the next phase of preparation. Along with the coaching staff, they’ve also been working on finalizing the official team roster.

Proud to Return Home

How did your return to lead the Changas in your hometown come about, and how does it feel? “Well, Hec Rivera and I have been friends for years and have worked together at the BMA for a long time. When we were approached about managing the team, he asked me if we should do it together, and I didn’t hesitate to say yes. Coaching in Naranjito is special; you feel that unique love from the people who have watched you grow. Coaching for my hometown is always a big deal. I was a fan, just like the people of my town, and I know the great responsibility that comes with wearing a jersey that represents volleyball in NARANJITO.”

Rollins Returns to the Changas

For this season, Naranjito has already signed its first of three reinforcements: American Adanna Rollins. Regarding this, Jamille elaborated: “I think the fact that teams will have three reinforcements raises the league’s level significantly since any team strengthens with these additions, making it a highly competitive tournament. We’ve already signed Adanna Rollins, who was a champion with the Pinkin and last year’s second-highest scorer in the tournament. We hope she can repeat that performance. We’ve also signed a high-level setter with NCAA experience, who we’ll announce in the coming days. We’re recruiting a middle blocker as our third reinforcement. For us, it’s crucial to make the right choices with our reinforcements to achieve success. This evaluation will be done carefully because it could be the key to our success.”

Currently, the Changas practice on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. With the Christmas holidays approaching, changes to the schedule are expected. On holidays, practices will be held earlier. Regarding this plan, Torres concluded: “When you look at the calendar, you think there are three or four weeks left until the season starts, but when you have the holidays, we’re just around the corner from the start of the season.”

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, December 17, 2024.- USA Volleyball is embarking on an exciting new chapter as legendary coach and three-time Olympic gold medalist Karch Kiraly announces two key additions to the U.S. Men’s National Team coaching staff. Luka Slabe and Javier Weber will join Kiraly in his quest for Olympic success at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. 

The announcement comes just ahead of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Convention, where both Kiraly and Slabe will lead educational sessions for coaches and volleyball professionals. 

“We are fortunate to have these two good men and great coaches join our program,” Kiraly said. “My mission is to help this team play this game better than it has ever played it before. Both Luka and Javi embody that pursuit of excellence—through their passion, expertise, drive to help others, and strong work ethic. They will be indispensable as we aim to set new standards on the road to LA28.” 

Luka Slabe: A Return to USA Volleyball 

Slabe, who returns to USA Volleyball after five successful years as head coach of the NC State women’s volleyball team, previously worked with Kiraly as an assistant coach on the U.S. Women’s National Team from 2018-2021. There, he played an integral role in the team’s historic achievements, including three consecutive Volleyball Nations League titles and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold medal—the first in U.S. women’s volleyball history. 

During his tenure at NC State, Slabe led the Wolfpack to a 78-55 overall record and a 50-39 record in ACC play. 

“Luka’s coaching prowess and passion were key to our staff’s success in securing the first-ever Olympic gold medal for the U.S. Women’s Team,” Kiraly said. “When I think about the people I’d want on our side in battle, there’s nobody better. His experience at the highest level, combined with his time as head coach of a European men’s national team, will be invaluable in our pursuit of mastery.” 

A native of Ljubljana, Slovenia, Slabe played as an outside hitter for BYU from 2000-03, contributing to the Cougars’ 2001 NCAA Division I-II Men’s National Collegiate Championship title. After graduating, he played professionally in Europe before transitioning to coaching in 2008. From 2008-15, Slabe coached four different European men’s pro teams and spent two years as head coach of the Slovenian men’s national team. He also served as an assistant coach with the BYU men’s volleyball team from 2015-18. 

“I am thrilled to be back with Karch and USA Volleyball,” Slabe said. “My family and I have incredible memories from our journey with the Women’s National Team and the Tokyo Olympics. I am ready and excited to conquer all the challenges ahead of our Men’s National Team, leading to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.” 

Javier Weber: Continuing His Legacy with U.S. Men’s National Team 

Weber, a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, returns for his fourth season with the U.S. Men’s National Team after joining in 2022 under head coach John Speraw. During Weber’s time with the team, the U.S. Men earned two silver medals in the Volleyball Nations League and a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

A former Olympic medalist and setter for Argentina, Weber represented his country in three Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal in 1988. His distinguished playing career also included five World Championships, as well as successful stints in professional leagues in Argentina and Italy. 

“Javi has earned exceptional praise from players and staff alike for the huge impact he’s had on the men’s program since joining in 2022,” Kiraly said. “In the past few months, I’ve gotten to know much more about Javi and his innovative volleyball concepts – the more I learn, the more I like and respect. It was imperative to secure his involvement for another Olympic cycle.” 

With extensive professional coaching experience, Weber began his coaching career in 2002 with Brazilian club Unisul. He has since coached several teams internationally, including Indykpol AZS Olsztyn in Poland, Panathinaikos Athens in Greece, Bolívar Voley in Argentina, and Dynamo Krasnodar in Russia. He served as head coach of the Argentine men’s national team from 2009-13 and is currently the head coach of the JT Thunders Hiroshima in Japan. 

“It’s a great honor to continue as coach in this incredible family that is USAV,” Weber said. “I am very excited to work with Karch in this huge challenge that is Los Angeles 2028. All together everything is possible. Let’s go, USA!” 

The Road to LA28 

The U.S. Men’s National Team will kick off the 2025 season in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from June 11-15 for the first round of the Volleyball Nations League. Under the leadership of Kiraly, Slabe and Weber, the team will continue its pursuit of excellence on the road to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. 

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico, December 13, 2024. – The Guaynabo Mets of the Women’s Volleyball Superior League (LVSF), led by Fernando Morales, have set clear goals, particularly to improve their performance as a team compared to the last two seasons.

Morales, making his debut as a coach in the women’s league, was chosen to lead the metropolitan team due to his close friendship with the team’s owners. “Last year, as the new owners, I knew them, they’re family friends, and I’ve known them since I was a kid, so I helped out from the sidelines. This year, I was already planning to transition into professional coaching, and they approached me, so I accepted,” Morales explained.

First Tasks and Goals

The first task for Fernando and his assistant, Jesús Echevarría, was to build a roster of reserves. “When we took over the team this year, we barely had any reserves. Three of our reserves were out: Valeria León, Stephanie Rivera, and Nayka Benítez. That’s why, during the draft, we traded one player and two picks to acquire three players. We’re making changes, and we brought in Valeria Flores to add another reserve. That was our first job. Now, we’re building a team. Our goal is to reach the semifinals. This team has finished last in the past two years, but we believe that with the reinforcements we’ve signed and those joining us later, we can compete to reach the top four,” said Morales.

The Mets Sign Their First Reinforcement

Rebecca Latham (Becca) arrived on the island Thursday as the Mets’ first of three reinforcements. Latham is a 6’2” opposite hitter with experience in leagues in Greece, Italy, the United States, and South Korea.

In addition to Latham, the Mets expect their other two reinforcements in the coming weeks, a middle blocker and a setter.

Native Roster

Guaynabo’s native roster for the upcoming season, which begins in January, includes Bárbara López, Norian Ceballos, Legna Hernández, Jaylibeth García, Jenselyn Morales, and Nelmarie Cruz. They are joined by players selected in the draft, such as Noami Santos Lamb, Natalie García, Paola Santiago, Rocío Moro, and Madison Cruzado, who arrives via trade from Juncos.

CAGUAS, Puerto Rico, December 12, 2024.- The Caguas Criollas continue their preparation for the 2025 season in the Women’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSF).

A Solid and Competitive Roster

The players retained for the 2025 season include Stephanie Enright, Alba Hernández, Alejandra Argüello, Paulina Pérez, Diana Reyes, Raymariely Santos, Kathia Sánchez, Sofia M. Victoriá, and their youth reserve, Chareika Carrión, in addition to the players selected in the draft. Caguas displays four top-level middle blockers and six outside hitters vying for spots in the starting lineup.

Intense and Positive Preparation

The squad, once again led by Juan C. Núñez and assisted by Juan Albarrán, has held five training sessions at the Roger Mendoza Coliseum. The team’s atmosphere and chemistry are reportedly excellent. Núñez shared: “We’ve had perfect attendance since we started with 10 players. This week, Sofía joined as the 11th player, and today, Thursday, Alejandra joins, making it 12. Great atmosphere, great chemistry, and the new players have adapted very well.”

A Promising Season

Fans of the Criollas are thrilled, as this season promises to bring back a Caguas team similar of past years, featuring many high-caliber players. Núñez added: “Last year, we had a roster with many young players; this roster has veteran, mature players who have been on big stages.”

December 11, 2024.- The host cities for the highly anticipated FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship 2025 have been announced. Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Phuket and Nakhon Ratchasima are set to welcome the Global Volleyball Movement next year from 22 August to 7 September 2025, as teams battle it out for a place on the podium.

In what is a volleyball-loving country, the selected host cities are set to offer world-class facilities and an unforgettable experience for the teams and fans alike. There will be 32 women’s national teams competing in Thailand next year – three from Africa, four from Asia, 16 from Europe, six from the NORCECA region and three from South America.

Pool play will take place across the four host cities: Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phuket, and Chiang Mai. From this stage, the top 16 teams will emerge to compete in the high-stakes direct elimination rounds. The action then shifts to Bangkok, where the Round of 16 will see teams fight for a coveted quarter-final spot.

The quarter-final victors will advance to the final stage, where the remaining teams will battle for the ultimate prize: the prestigious title of World Champions.

The Drawing of Lots ceremony for the competition will take place on 17 December 2024 at 3 pm local time in Bangkok. This will determine the eight pools of four teams that are set to battle it out for world championship glory!

Volleyball fans around the globe will be able to watch the event live on VBTV or Volleyball World’s YouTube Channel.

PONCE, Puerto Rico, December 7, 2024 – The Caribes of San Sebastián achieved the highly coveted “back-to-back” championship on Saturday night, December 7, in a thrilling Game 7 of the Men’s Volleyball Superior Leagues (LVSM) Finals against the Mets of Guaynabo at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium.

It was an intense and dramatic series, decided in five dramatic sets, 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 25-23, 23-25, 15-13).

This marks the third championship for the Caribes franchise, with their first title dating back to the 1999 season.

Following the victory and during the celebration, Dr. Angelo Ferrante, owner of the Caribes de San Sebastián, addressed the fans: “We promised you the ‘back-to-back,’ and here it is. Now we’re going for the three-peat.”

Jalen Penrose led the Caribes with 28 points, followed by Pelegrín Vargas with 20, Pablo Guzmán with 14, and Pedro Nieves with 11.

For the Mets of Guaynabo, Inovel Romero scored 24 points, Gregory Torres 23, and Gianluca Grasso 16.

San Sebastián outperformed Guaynabo in attacks (73 to 64), aces (6 to 2), and passes (64 to 54). However, the Mets excelled in blocks (13 to 8), defenses (58 to 57), and assists (28 to 23).

Outside hitter Pablo Guzmán was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the final series. After the win, he said: “We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy victory. Guaynabo has an incredible team, a great team. I respect them, and we respect them, but we had to come out determined and focused on the victory, with a lot of patience.”

He added: “Winning a ‘back-to-back’ isn’t easy, especially when teams make big signings like Guaynabo. As I said, composure was key and staying united. Chamo (the team’s coach) did an excellent job rotating the players. Honestly, it was a collective victory that will mean a lot for our careers and for Pepino.”

On being named MVP, Guzmán concluded: “It means so much. This is a team effort, but since 2021, I’ve worked hard. I’ve been through injuries, played while hurt, but thanks to God, I was healthy enough to play this final series and help my teammates win this championship. Thanks to God.”

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico, December 4, 2024.- The Mets de Guaynabo defended their home court at the Mario “Quijote” Morales Coliseum for the third time, leveling the final series of the Men’s Volleyball Superior League (LVSM) at three wins apiece against defending champions Caribes de San Sebastián. The Mets secured a 3-1 victory in Game six (22-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-19).

As a result, the series will be decided in a maximum of seven games, with the championship trophy up for grabs this Saturday, December 7, scheduled at 8:00 PM at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium in Ponce, known as the Ciudad Señorial.

For the second consecutive year, the men’s tournament final series will culminate in a decisive seventh game. Last season, the Caribes de San Sebastián were crowned champions against the Changos de Naranjito.

The Mets’ top scorer in the sixth game of the series was Gregory Torres, who tallied 20 points (16 kills, 2 blocks, and 2 aces). He was followed by Inovel Romero with 17 points, all from attacks, and Gianluca Grasso with 9 points.

For San Sebastián, Pelegrín Vargas led the offense with 12 points, while Pablo Guzmán, Ezequiel Cruz, and Jalen Penrose each added 11 points.

The Mets outperformed the Caribes in blocks (13-8) and aces (4-3), while the Caribes had the upper hand in attacks (52-49), digs (55-45), receptions (58-52), and assists (30-22).

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, December 4, 2024.- The four FIVB Volleyball Youth World Championships set to take place in 2025 started taking shape on Wednesday, when the drawing of lots for the tournaments were held in Lausanne, Switzerland, determining the start of the journey of each of the 96 national teams set to compete for medals next year.

The Drawing of Lots replay is available onYouTube.

Each tournament will feature 24 national teams, which are now allocated into four pools of six. After the conclusion of pool play, the best four teams in each pool will move forward, advancing to the eighthfinals. Teams ranked fifth and sixth in their pools will continue in action, playing in the playoffs to determine the final positions from 17th to 24th.

FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U19 World Championship

The 2025 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U19 World Championship will be held from 3 to 13 July in Osijek, Croatia and Belgrade, Serbia.

Pool A: Croatia, Thailand, Egypt, Canada, Mexico, Germany

Pool B: Serbia, Brazil, Argentina, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the Chinese Taipei

Pool C: USA, Türkiye, Bulgaria, Poland, Peru, Spain

Pool D: Italy, Japan, China, Tunisia, Belgium, Chile

FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U19 World Championship

The 2025 FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U19 World Championship will be held from 24 July to 3 August in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Pool A: Uzbekistan, Belgium, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Pakistan, Türkiye

Pool B: France, Bulgaria, Japan, China, Algeria, Canada

Pool C: Iran, Italy, Egypt, Tunisia, Poland, Spain

Pool D: USA, Korea, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Finland

FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship

The 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship will be held from 7 to 17 August in Surabaya, Indonesia.

Pool A: Indonesia, Argentina, Serbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Vietnam

Pool B: China, USA, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Korea, Croatia

Pool C: Italy, Türkiye, Egypt, Poland, Algeria, Czechia

Pool D: Brazil, Japan, Tunisia, Thailand, Chile, Bulgaria

FIVB Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championship

The 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championship will be held from 18 to 31 August in Jiangmen, China.

Pool A: China, Egypt, USA, Thailand, Morocco, Türkiye

Pool B: Iran, Poland, Canada, Korea, Puerto Rico, Kazakhstan

Pool C: Bulgaria, Brazil, Czechia, Colombia, Japan, Cuba

Pool D: Italy, Argentina, Tunisia, France, Ukraine, Indonesia

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Dec. 3, 2024).- USA Volleyball is pleased to announce the hiring of accomplished sports and entertainment executive Jaime Weston as Chief Commercial Officer.

At USA Volleyball, Weston will lead the commercial and brand strategy of the organization as it heads into the LA 2028 Olympic Games. 

 Along with a passion for volleyball, Weston brings extensive experience in business operations, partnerships, marketing and experiential events, and creative strategy to her new role.

Previously, Weston was the senior vice president of marketing at the National Football League, where she was responsible for setting the brand vision and growth marketing strategies. She was also the executive vice president of global consumer marketing for Universal Music Group and the executive vice president, chief marketing officer for On Location, Endeavor’s premium live event events company.

“I’m confident that Jaime’s leadership and passion for the sport will be a valuable asset to our organization,” said USA Volleyball President and CEO John Speraw. “I look forward to the fresh perspectives and strategic insights she will bring to our team.”

Weston will be based in Southern California, home to the national training centers of both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams in Anaheim and the U.S. Beach National Team in Torrance.

“Volleyball has been a cornerstone of my life as a player, competitor, and parent,” said Weston. “Joining a mission-driven organization like USA Volleyball, the pinnacle of our sport in the U.S., is a true honor. With John at the helm as CEO, we have a unique opportunity to celebrate the sport’s rich history and help shape its bright future on the global stage.”

SAN SEBASTIÁN, Puerto Rico, December 2, 2024 – The Caribes de San Sebastián are just one victory (3-2) away from completing their “back-to-back” championship in the Men’s Volleyball Superior League (LVSM) after sweeping 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-20) the Mets de Guaynabo in the fifth game of the Finals at the Luis Aymat Cardona Coliseum,

This marks the second time Caribes have successfully defended their home court, dominating the Mets de Guaynabo in straight sets.

The Caribes outperformed the Mets 40-36 in attacks, 12-5 in blocks, and 19-16 in assists. Guaynabo had the upper hand in aces (3-0), digs (39-34), and receptions (44-31).

San Sebastián’s offense was led by Ezequiel Cruz, who scored 14 points with 12 kills and 2 blocks. He was followed by Pedro Nieves with 10 points, while Jalen Penrose and Pelegrín Vargas contributed 8 points each.

For the Mets de Guaynabo, Gianluca Grasso and Inovel Romero each tallied 11 points.

After the victory, Ezequiel Cruz, the outside hitter for the Caribes de San Sebastián, who earned his coach Marcos Liendo Sivira’s trust after the first set, said: “It was a night full of emotions, but with one goal in mind. I think we came out with the right attitude tonight and, thank God, we came away with the win”.

This Finals series has been marked by the dominance of home teams, with each winning their respective matches. The Mets de Guaynabo now have the opportunity to continue this trend in Game 6 on their home court.

Caribes, however, have a different objective: to close out the series. Cruz believes that mental preparation is key to achieving this, and the more focused they are on the court, the better they will perform.

Ramón Burgos, captain of the Mets de Guaynabo, said: “It was a good win for Caribes. It’s always tough playing in this arena; thank God we don’t have to come back here. Now, it’s our turn to protect our home court, stay focused, and improve in every facet of the game to force Game 7 in Ponce”.

The series continues on Wednesday, December 4, at 8:00 PM for Game 6 at the Mario “Quijote” Morales Coliseum in Guaynabo.

The Finals is a best-of-seven series, with the first team to win four games claiming the championship. If the Mets win Game 6, the decisive Game 7 will be held at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium in Ponce on Saturday, December 7, starting at 8:00 PM.

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico, November 29, 2024.- The Guaynabo Mets, showing their resilience, defeated the defending champions, Caribes de San Sebastián, 3-1 (25-20, 25-16, 15-25, 25-20) in the fourth game of the Men’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSM) Final Series at their home court, Mario “Quijote” Morales Coliseum.

In the fourth set, leading the match 2 sets to 1, the Mets secured victory by pulling ahead 19-14 with a strong back-row attack. They reached set point at 24-19 with a triple block against Jalen Penrose and clinched the win at 25-20 due to a service error by Penrose.

The Mets outperformed the Caribes in several categories: 51-47 in attacks, 13-5 in blocks, 3-2 in aces, and 36-32 in digs. Meanwhile, San Sebastián led in passing (60-52) and assists (24-17).

The Mets’ top offensive contributors were Inovel Romero with 23 points (20 attacks, 2 blocks, and 1 ace), followed by Egyptian player Hisham Yousri with 17 points, and Gianluca Grasso with 7 points. For Caribes, Jalen Penrose scored 21 points, and Pelegrín Vargas added 11.

After the win, Inovel Romero, the outside hitter for the Guaynabo Mets, stated: “We were down 2-1 in the series and knew it would be a tough match, so we gave it our all. We made adjustments, stayed united, and thanks to God and the team’s effort, we came out with the victory. We must keep going because the series isn’t over yet. They’re a great team defending their championship. Now, we need to go there, try to steal a game, and come back home to close it out. But we know it’s going to be tough, and we’re ready for whatever comes.”

This series has seen home teams come out victorious in every game so far. To turn things around, Romero added: “We need to stay focused when we play there. Their fans are really involved, but we must block that out. We’ll keep making adjustments because the series is still on, and we’re moving forward.”

Enger Mieses, libero for the Caribes de San Sebastián, commented: “We couldn’t pull off the win. It’s tough because, remember, at this stage, it’s all mental. The difference will be which team can steal a game on the road. It’s a mental game. When they play at home, they feel the same pressure some of our players might feel when we come to Guaynabo.”

Regarding the key to defending their home court in the next game, Mieses concluded: “I think it’s about focus, starting from the beginning with the claws that define us, bringing them into our style of play and not playing at their rhythm. I think focus is the most important thing.”

The series continues on Monday, December 2, at Luis Aymat Cardona Coliseum in San Sebastián for Game 5.

The Final Series is played as a best-of-seven format, with the first team to win four games claiming the championship.

SAN SEBASTIÁN, Puerto Rico, November 27, 2024.- The third match of the Men’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSM) Final Series at the Luis Aymat Cardona Coliseum went to the Caribes of San Sebastián, with a decisive 3-0 victory (25-17, 25-17, 25-20) over the Mets of Guaynabo.

Both teams entered the game tied with one win apiece after the Mets overcame the Caribes in a five-set thriller in the second match of the series. Tonight, San Sebastián showed why they are the defending champions.

Caribes outperformed the Mets in attacks (43-29), blocks (7-0), aces (9-4), and sets (25-24). Both teams ended tied in digs with 27, while the Mets had the edge in assists (9-8).

After the commanding win, Pelegrín Vargas Jr. of the Caribes stated: “Well, I’m not going to lie to you; this game showed a lot of character from us. They had a great match in Guaynabo, and without taking anything away from them, I think we were able to do better tonight. We made the necessary adjustments, came focused, and used our home crowd to our advantage. They were our seventh player, and I think that made the difference. That’s what series are all about.”

When asked if this result signaled the end of the series, Vargas added: “No, sir, no, sir. This is the third game, and it’s the best of seven. We haven’t accomplished anything yet. We have to keep moving forward, stay united, and make the necessary adjustments game by game.”

Gregory Torres of the Mets commented: “We didn’t expect this result, especially after the great match we had at home. But credit to the other team, they played really well. Even though we’re not an easy team to beat, they played quite well.”

Regarding the difference between this game and the last, Torres pointed out: “I think it was a lack of focus. We were a bit unfocused, arrived late, and didn’t have enough time to prepare calmly or follow our usual pregame ritual. These are things you face traveling to different venues, and not all trips are the same.”

The top scorers for Caribes were Pelegrín Vargas with 24 points (17 attacks, 2 blocks, 5 aces), followed by Jalen Penrose with 13 points, and Pablo Guzmán and Pedro Nieves, each with 7 points.

For the Mets, Inovel Romero scored 10 points, and Gianluca Grasso added 8.

Before the match, Dr. César H. Trabanco, President of the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation, presented plaques to the players awarded this season’s individual honors.

The series moves to the Mario “Quijote” Morales Coliseum in Guaynabo this Friday, November 29, for the fourth match. The best-of-seven series will continue, with the game scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM.

FINAL SERIES SCHEDULE
Game 1: Friday, November 22, 2024: Guaynabo at San Sebastián (8 PM) 1-3 (18-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-19)
Game 2: Sunday, November 24, 2024: San Sebastián at Guaynabo (5 PM) 2-3 (25-22, 20-25, 20-25, 28-26, 18-16)
Game 3: Wednesday, November 27, 2024: Guaynabo at San Sebastián (8 PM) 0-3 (25-17, 25-17 y 25-20)
Game 4: Friday, November 29, 2024: San Sebastián at Guaynabo (8 PM)
Game 5: Monday, December 2, 2024: Guaynabo at San Sebastián (8 PM)*
Game 6: Wednesday, December 4, 2024: San Sebastián at Guaynabo (8 PM)*
Game 7: Saturday, December 7, 2024: Guaynabo vs. San Sebastián (8 PM)*+

If necessary. +To be held at Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium in Ponce (neutral venue).

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico, November 24, 2024. – The Mets of Guaynabo stepped up in the second match of the Puerto Rican Men’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSM) Finals, delivering a hard-fought 3-2 victory (25-22, 20-25, 20-25, 28-26, 18-16) against the defending champions, Caribes de San Sebastián, at the Mario “Quijote” Morales Coliseum. They tied the series at one game apiece.

Guaynabo also ended the Caribes’ impressive 18-game winning streak, which had been unbroken since September 7.

Coming off a four-set loss in the opening game, the Mets held their ground this evening, resisting a late push by the Caribes in the fourth set and triumphing in extra points during the fifth, silencing a packed crowd of Caribes fans that filled the Quijote Coliseum.

In the fourth set, San Sebastián launched an 11-2 run to take a 20-18 lead and reached set point at 24-23 with Penrose striking effectively from zone two. However, they failed to close, allowing the Mets, led offensively by Inovel Romero, to secure the set in extra points, 28-26.

In the fifth set, the Caribes were once again on the brink of victory, reaching match point at 14-13 with Penrose attacking from zone two. Yet again, Romero stepped up for the Mets, leading them to an 18-16 victory.

Carlos Rodríguez, assistant coach for the Mets, reflected: “I think sometimes we get too relaxed during the match and assume we have the advantage, but in volleyball, there’s no room for that. You have to play point by point, especially against a team like the Caribes de San Sebastián, who have a knack for comebacks. I believe from point 20 to 25, we played with more confidence and energy in the fourth set, and that made the difference. It carried over into the fifth set, where we held strong in extra points, and our side-out (K1) dominated in the crucial phases”.

On plans for the next game, Rodríguez added: “We need to keep controlling Pelegrín and Penrose, their two key players. It’s crucial to continue working on how we handle their serves”.

Jackson Rivera, outside hitter for the Caribes, acknowledged the challenge: “We knew it was going to be a tough game since they couldn’t afford to go down 0-2 in a final series. It’s very hard to face that record going back to San Sebastián. We expected them to make every possible adjustment. Unfortunately, we couldn’t close the match despite having control and momentum. It just wasn’t our night”.

To defend their home court in the next match, Rivera emphasized the importance of playing their style of volleyball, serving well, and maintaining solid reception, which faltered at times during the match. “We’re heading home to defend our court. The team will make the necessary adjustments to secure that win”,  Rivera concluded.

Inovel Romero led the Mets with 25 points, supported by Hisham Yousri with 24. On the Caribes’ side, Jalen Penrose shone with 29 points.

The series now moves to the Luis Aymat Cardona Coliseum in San Sebastián on Wednesday, November 27, at 8:00 PM.

Guaynabo outperformed San Sebastián 8-5 in aces, while San Sebastián excelled in attacks (65-59), passes (59-52), and assists (30-24). Both teams tied in blocks (16) and digs (44).

FINAL SERIES SCHEDULE
Game 1: Friday, November 22, 2024: Guaynabo at San Sebastián (8 PM) (1-3: 18-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-19)
Game 2: Sunday, November 24, 2024: San Sebastián at Guaynabo (5 PM) (2-3: 25-22, 20-25, 20-25, 28-26, 18-16)
Game 3: Wednesday, November 27, 2024: Guaynabo at San Sebastián (8 PM)
Game 4: Friday, November 29, 2024: San Sebastián at Guaynabo (8 PM)
Game 5: Monday, December 2, 2024: Guaynabo at San Sebastián (8 PM)*
Game 6: Wednesday, December 4, 2024: San Sebastián at Guaynabo (8 PM)*
Game 7: Saturday, December 7, 2024: Guaynabo vs. San Sebastián (8 PM)*+

If necessary. +To be held at Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium in Ponce (neutral venue).

SAN SEBASTIÁN, Puerto Rico, November 22, 2024. – The opening match of the Finals series in the Men’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSM) was claimed by the defending champions, Caribes de San Sebastián, with a 3-1 victory (18-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-19) over the Mets de Guaynabo at the Luis Aymat Cardona court.

This marked the 18th consecutive win for the Caribes de San Sebastián, who have remained unbeaten since September 7.

The winning offense showed a balanced double-digit performance, led by Jalen Penrose with 22 points, including 17 kills, 2 blocks, and 3 aces. He was followed by Pelegrín Vargas with 19 points and Pedro Nieves with 10.

For the Mets de Guaynabo, Inovel Romero and Gianluca Grasso each tallied 15 points, while Gregory Torres added 14.

Howard García, setter for the Caribes de San Sebastián, commented: “We knew it was going to be a tough night. Guaynabo has a great team, but I think we kept our composure, executed the game plan, and came out with the victory.”

Regarding the Caribes’ winning streak, García added: “This is all about hard work and dedication, lots of practice, training, hours spent analyzing stats and studying opponents. Thanks to God, we’ve been able to achieve all these victories up until tonight.”

The series continues on Sunday at the Mario “Quijote” Morales Coliseum in Guaynabo. García concluded: “We know it won’t be an easy night. Guaynabo has strong fan support, and it’s an away game for us. But we know that if we execute the game plan, we can secure the win.”

Gerardo “Gerry” De Jesús, coach of the Mets de Guaynabo, reflected on the match: “We lost our composure a bit, especially in the second set. We didn’t play well in the second and third sets. San Sebastián did their job, but statistically, it was more about what we didn’t do than what they did. We made 11 errors in the second set and 12 in the third, which cost us confidence and execution. It made us doubt, and that was the key factor.”

Regarding their plans for Game 2, De Jesús said: “We need to play cleaner volleyball, reduce errors, especially on serves, and stay calm. It’s all about execution. This game is won by executing.”

In team stats, San Sebastián outperformed Guaynabo in blocks (8-7), assists (14-13), and receptions (39-30). Guaynabo led in attacks (49-48) and digs (37-27).

FINALS SCHEDULE:

• Game 1: Friday, November 22, 2024: Guaynabo at San Sebastián (8 PM) – 1-3 (18-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-19)
• Game 2: Sunday, November 24, 2024: San Sebastián at Guaynabo (5 PM)
• Game 3: Wednesday, November 27, 2024: Guaynabo at San Sebastián (8 PM)
• Game 4: Friday, November 29, 2024: San Sebastián at Guaynabo (8 PM)
• Game 5: Monday, December 2, 2024: Guaynabo at San Sebastián (8 PM)*
• Game 6: Wednesday, December 4, 2024: San Sebastián at Guaynabo (8 PM)*
• Game 7: Saturday, December 7, 2024: Guaynabo vs. San Sebastián (8 PM)*+

(*If necessary. +Match to be held at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium in Ponce, neutral court.)

Nov. 22, 2024: Head coach Tuomas Sammelvuo has announced his departure as head coach of the senior men’s program.

“It is with a heavy heart that I’ve made the decision to step down as head coach of Team Canada,” said Sammelvuo. He and his wife welcomed a new baby into their family last month, which precipitated the decision.

Sammelvuo thanked the players and staff for their dedication to improvement since he took over the program.

“We’ve had two great years together… you have been a fantastic team to coach. I never needed to coach attitude or energy levels. That’s why it was so great to be in the gym with this team. Wins and losses fade away, but relationships last forever, and that’s what made this decision so difficult.”

Sammelvuo was named the men’s team head coach in 2022, and quickly helped the team in its bid to qualify for Paris 2024, coming second in its pool at the Qualification Tournament in 2023. Canada finished 10th overall at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The team also progressed to the Volleyball Nations League quarterfinals in 2024.

“Tuomas demonstrated great leadership and passion for Team Canada during his time with the senior program,” said Julien Boucher, Volleyball Canada’s high-performance director (indoor). “He worked very hard on and off the court, showing the players what was possible and succeeding in guiding the men’s team to its third Olympic Games in a row. We wish him the best as he takes this time to be closer to his family.”

Originally from Finland, he is currently the head coach of the Polish professional team, Asseco Resovia. Sammelvuo was previously the head coach of the Finnish national team and led Russia to 2019 Volleyball Nations League gold and a silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Volleyball Canada will begin the process of hiring a replacement immediately.

YAUCO, Puerto Rico, November 18, 2024. – The Guaynabo Mets secured their spot in the finals of the Puerto Rico Men’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSM) by defeating Yauco Cafeteros 3-1 (25-21, 25-14, 24-26, 25-19) in Game 6 of the Semifinal Series at the Raúl “Pipote” Oliveras court. 

Guaynabo was powered by double-digit performances from Gregory Torres, Inovel Romero, and Gianluca Grasso, who contributed 22, 17, and 11 points, respectively. 

For Yauco Cafeteros, Diego Negrón and Mark Frazier also posted double-digit scores with 18 and 15 points, respectively. 

Guaynabo outperformed Yauco 54-39 in attacks, 41-30 in digs, 8-3 in aces, and 23-16 in assists. Both teams tied with 8 blocks each, while Yauco had the edge in receptions, 55-46. 

The Mets will now face the defending champions, Caribes of San Sebastián, in the final series. 

Guaynabo returns to the finals after falling in four games in the 2023 semifinals against the Caribes of San Sebastián. The Mets have lifted the championship trophy in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2022. The 2017 season was canceled due to Hurricanes Irma and María, and the 2020 tournament was called off due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

Meanwhile, the Caribes of San Sebastián’s first title prior to their 2023 championship was back in 1999. 

The final series will be played in a best-of-seven format, with the first team to win four games claiming the championship. 

SEMIFINAL SERIES A

Game 1 – Wednesday, November 6, 8:00 PM – Yauco at Guaynabo / 2-3 (21-25, 20-25, 25-16, 25-20, 15-11) 

Game 2 – Friday, November 8, 8:00 PM – Guaynabo at Yauco / 2-3 (28-30, 14-25, 25-17, 25-22, 15-13) 

Game 3 – Sunday, November 10, 5:00 PM – Yauco at Guaynabo / 0-3 (25-22, 25-15, 25-23) 

Game 4 – Wednesday, November 13, 8:00 PM – Guaynabo at Yauco / 2-3 (18-25, 26-24, 18-25, 25-19, 15-8) 

Game 5 – Friday, November 15, 8:00 PM – Yauco at Guaynabo / 1-3 (25-20, 19-25, 25-18, 25-13) 

Game 6 – Monday, November 18, 8:00 PM – Guaynabo at Yauco / 3-1 (25-21, 25-14, 24-26, 25-19) 

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico, November 15, 2024.- The Mets de Guaynabo took control of their semifinal series against Cafeteros de Yauco with a 3-2 lead, positioning themselves just one victory away from the Men’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSM) finals after defeating them 3-1 (25-20, 19-25, 25-18, 25-13) at the Mario “Quijote” Morales Coliseum. 

Following the win, Mets libero Arnel Cabrera said: “As I’ve said before, I believe we’re playing this series against ourselves. Yauco has shown an incredible level of play, but whenever we manage to focus on our strengths and control our emotions a bit, we execute very well. It’s been challenging because we’re such a complete team; everyone wants to give their best, which sometimes works against us. We make mistakes at critical moments, and Yauco, credit where it’s due, has executed extremely well and given us an incredible series.”

This semifinal has seen the home team prevail in every game. Addressing this trend, Cabrera added: “Of course, going to Yauco requires responsibility and a clear mindset. It’s an emotional venue, with a passionate crowd, and we know they play very well at home and defend their court effectively. On our end, I’d say we’ve had some erratic games at times in Yauco, which has shaken our confidence a bit when playing away. But we have a day to clear our minds and head there as focused as possible.”

The Mets outperformed Cafeteros 50-36 in attacks, 11-9 in blocks, 51-39 in digs, and 9-4 in aces, while Yauco held the edge in receptions (52-44) and assists (25-20). 

The winners’ offense was led by Inovel Romero with 20 points, Gregory Torres with 18, and Gianluca Grasso with 11. For Yauco, Diego Negrón contributed 16 points, and Mark Frazier added 10 in the losing effort. 

The series returns to the Pipote Oliveras Coliseum in Yauco for Game 6 on Monday, November 18, at 8:00 PM. 

The winner of this series will face the defending champions, Caribes de San Sebastián, who became the first finalists after sweeping the runners-up, Changos de Naranjito, in four matches. 

The semifinal series are played in a best-of-seven format. The KIA Cup Grand Final begins two days after the last semifinal concludes. 

SEMIFINAL SERIES  A

Game #1 – Wednesday, November 6 – 8:00 PM, Yauco ag Guaynabo / 2-3 (21-25, 20-25, 25-16, 25-20, 15-11) 

Game #2 – Friday, November 8 – 8:00 PM, Guaynabo at Yauco / 2-3 (28-30, 14-25, 25-17, 25-22, 15-13) 

Game #3 – Sunday, November 10 – 5:00 PM, Yauco at Guaynabo / 0-3 (25-22, 25-15, 25-23) 

Game #4 – Wednesday, November 13 – 8:00 PM, Guaynabo at Yauco / 2-3 (18-25, 26-24, 18-25, 25-19, 15-8) 

Game #5 – Friday, November 15 – 8:00 PM, Yauco at Guaynabo / 1-3 (25-20, 19-25, 25-18, 25-13) 

Game #6 (if necessary) – Monday, November 18 – 8:00 PM, Guaynabo at Yauco 

Game #7 (if necessary) – Thursday, November 21 – 8:00 PM, Yauco at Guaynabo 

NARANJITO, Puerto Rico, November 14, 2024. – The reigning champions of the Men’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSM), the Caribes de San Sebastián, completed a sweep of the runner-up Changos de Naranjito in Semifinal B on Thursday, November 14, winning the series in four matches. 

The Caribes dropped only two sets throughout the series and eliminated the Changos with nine straight set wins, sealing their victory at the legendary Gelito Ortega court in this municipality. 

Dr. Angelo Ferrante Cruz, owner of the Caribes, shared after the win: “I’m very happy. I thought it would be tougher. The Changos are a great team and a strong opponent, but the Caribes have been inspired and focused. There’s no doubt we’re aiming for that back-to-back championship, and with God’s favor, we’re just four games away from achieving it.” 

Regarding the other semifinal between the Mets de Guaynabo and the Cafeteros de Yauco, which is guaranteed to reach at least six games and considering that the final series would begin just two days after the conclusion of that series, Dr. Ferrante added: “Well, there’s not much time to rest. Tomorrow, Friday (today), we’ll rest, but by Saturday, we’ll be back on the court practicing and preparing for both potential opponents. That series seems to be going long, and we need to be ready for either contender to ultimately win the championship as we aspire to.” 

“We encourage the fans of San Sebastián and the fans of the other team that advances to the final to support us, to support volleyball. We rely on that support, on that ‘seventh player’ in the stands. Without a doubt, all of Puerto Rico knows that San Sebastián has the best volleyball fans, thanks to God,” concluded Ferrante Cruz. 

The scores in San Sebastián’s victory were 25-21, 27-25, and 25-21. 

The Caribes outperformed Changos 44-34 in attacks, 9-5 in blocks, 6-1 in aces, and 26-25 in digs. Both teams tallied 37 receptions each, while the home team led in assists 22-17. 

Caribes’ offensive leaders in double digits included their import Jalen Penrose with 22 points, all from attacks, followed by Pelegrín Vargas with 16 points and Pedro Nieves with 7. 

For the Changos de Naranjito, Félix Chapman scored 10 points, Ángel Rivera had 9, and Adrián Iglesias contributed 7. 

SEMIFINAL B SERIES

GAME #1 – Thursday, November 7 – 8:00 PM

Naranjito at San Sebastián – 2-3 (25-20, 25-18, 17-25, 22-25, 15-12). 

GAME #2 – Saturday, November 9 – 8:00 PM

San Sebastián at Naranjito – 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 27-25). 

GAME #3 – Tuesday, November 12 – 8:00 PM 

Naranjito at San Sebastián – 0-3 (25-23, 25-20, 25-21). 

GAME #4 – Thursday, November 14 – 8:00 PM

San Sebastián at Naranjito – 3-0 (25-21, 27-25, 25-21). 

YAUCO, Puerto Rico, November 13, 2024.- Playing at home in the Raúl “Pipote” Oliveras Coliseum, Yauco Cafeteros rallied to secure a win in a decisive fifth set, defeating the Guaynabo Mets to even the series at two wins apiece.

The Mets, who had previously swept Yauco 3-0, stumbled with 12 service errors and 19 attack errors, crucial factors that ultimately influenced the outcome.

The Cafeteros took the win 3-2 (18-25, 26-24, 18-25, 25-19, 15-8).

With the match tied at two sets each, Cafeteros opened the fifth set with a 5-1 lead thanks to a block by Mark Frazier, a lead they would not hand over. Eddie Rivera then extended the advantage with an ace, pushing the score to 12-7. This set the stage for Diego Negrón, who scored three consecutive points, one from the left wing and two from the opposite corner, to seal the victory at 15-8.

Yauco outperformed Guaynabo 63 to 62 in attacks, 53 to 42 in digs, and 70 to 61 in receptions, though Guaynabo led 14 to 5 in blocks and 21 to 20 in assists.

The Cafeteros’ double-digit scorers were Diego Negrón with 21 points, Eddie Rivera with 17, and both Mark Frazier and Jessie Colón with 11 each.

For the Mets, Gianluca Grasso led with 24 points, followed by Inovel Romero with 15, and Hisham Yousri with 11.

Yauco’s two wins came in five-set matches, while Guaynabo’s wins were one in straight sets and the other in five.

This competitive series guarantees at least a sixth game, meaning that at least six of the potential seven games will be played.

The series resumes on Friday, November 15, at Mario Morales Coliseum in Guaynabo and returns to Pipote Oliveras on Monday, November 18. Both games are scheduled for 8:00 PM.

The other semifinal between San Sebastián Caribes (3-0) and Naranjito Changos will take place on Thursday, November 14, at 8:00 PM at the legendary Gelito Ortega court.

The semifinals are best-of-7 series, and the KIA Cup Grand Final will begin two days after the last semifinal concludes.

SEMIFINAL A SERIES

GAME #1 – Wednesday, November 6 – 8:00 PM, Yauco at Guaynabo / 2-3 (21-25, 20-25, 25-16, 25-20, 15-11) 

GAME #2 – Friday, November 8 – 8:00 PM, Guaynabo at Yauco / 2-3 (28-30, 14-25, 25-17, 25-22, 15-13) 

GAME #3 – Sunday, November 10 – 5:00 PM, Yauco at Guaynabo / 0-3 (25-22, 25-15, 25-23) 

GAME #4 – Wednesday, November 13 – 8:00 PM, Guaynabo at Yauco / 2-3 (18-25, 26-24, 18-25, 25-19, 15-8) 

GAME #5 (IF NECESSARY) – Friday, November 15 – 8:00 PM, Yauco at Guaynabo 

GAME #6 (IF NECESSARY) – Monday, November 18 – 8:00 PM, Guaynabo at Yauco 

GAME #7 (IF NECESSARY) – Thursday, November 21 – 8:00 PM, Yauco at Guaynabo

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico, November 10, 2024.- The Mets de Guaynabo defended their home court at Mario “Quijote” Morales Coliseum to take control of Semifinal A in the Men’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSM) of Puerto Rico, leading the series 2-1 over Cafeteros de Yauco.

The previous two games went to overtime, but this time was the opposite: the home team has won all three matches.

After the victory, outside hitter Gianluca Grasso of the Mets said, “We served better, defended a little better on the court, and played with a bit more heart and awareness. You know, we used our blocking and coverage effectively, and thanks to all the hard work we’ve put in these last two weeks, we finally came out with a three-set win.”

Grasso, recognized as “Comeback Player of the Year” in this season’s awards, emphasized that the key to advancing to the final series is sticking to their established plan. He added, “We need to keep doing what we did today, focusing on our serves, keeping the pressure on, and playing our game. I think in the last two games, we lost sight of the game plan a little, which made things difficult, but now we know what we need to do to carry today’s approach into the next two games.”

The scores in favor of the Mets were 25-22, 25-15, and 25-23.

Guaynabo outperformed Yauco with a 49-35 advantage in attacks, 41-24 in digs, and 37-36 in passes. Both teams tied in blocks with five each and in service aces.

Gianluca Grasso led the Mets with 19 points (17 in attacks, one block, and one ace), followed by Egyptian Hisham Yousri with 15 points and naturalized Cuban Inovel Romero with 12. Kevin Rodríguez contributed 18 assists.

For the Cafeteros de Yauco, Mark Frazier was the only player to score in double digits with 18 points.

The series returns to Raúl “Pipote” Oliveras Coliseum in Yauco next Wednesday, November 13, for the fourth game of the series. The match is scheduled to start at 8:00 PM.

The semifinal series is best-of-seven. The Kia Cup Grand Final will begin two days after the conclusion of the last semifinal.

SEMIFINAL SERIES A

GAME #1 – Wednesday, November 6 – 8:00 PM Yauco at Guaynabo / 2-3 (21-25, 20-25, 25-16, 25-20, 15-11)

GAME #2 – Friday, November 8 – 8:00 PM Guaynabo at Yauco / 2-3 (28-30, 14-25, 25-17, 25-22, 15-13)

GAME #3 – Sunday, November 10 – 5:00 PM Yauco at Guaynabo / 0-3 (25-22, 25-15, 25-23)

GAME #4 – Wednesday, November 13 – 8:00 PM Guaynabo at Yauco

GAME #5 (IF NECESSARY) – Friday, November 15 – 8:00 PM Yauco at Guaynabo

GAME #6 (IF NECESSARY) – Monday, November 18 – 8:00 PM Guaynabo at Yauco

GAME #7 (IF NECESSARY) – Thursday, November 21 – 8:00 PM Yauco at Guaynabo

NARANJITO, Puerto Rico, November 9, 2024.– The defending champions of the Puerto Rico Men’s Volleyball Superior League (LVSM), Caribes de San Sebastián, led by double-digit offense from Jalen Penrose and Pelegrín Vargas with 23 and 15 points respectively, as well as 10 team blocks, quickly left the legendary Gelito Ortega court in Naranjito with a three-set win over the Changos. This victory put them up 2-0 in Semifinal Series B.

The scores were 25-16, 25-22, and 27-25.

Regarding the straight-sets result, Pablo Guzmán, outside hitter for Caribes de San Sebastián, commented, “Well, we knew they were coming to play; all three sets were hard-fought. I think there’s still a lot of series to play; we must take it game by game, and they are a very tough team that always brings their best against us.”

Guzmán credited the victory to their serving and added, “The rotation was key; Chamo alternated me and Pelegrín on the outside, and our serve was much more effective than in the previous game.” He continued, “And to our fans, I say keep coming; we have a great team, and all fourteen of us are going to give everything on the court.”

San Sebastián outperformed Naranjito with 44-34 in attacks, 10-7 in blocks, 4-2 in aces, 30-27 in digs, 36-35 in receptions, and 15-13 in assists.

For Changos, top scorers included Jonathan Rodríguez with 11 points, Luis Vega with 9, Félix Chapman with 8, and Jorge López with 7.

The series returns to the Luis Aymat Cardona Coliseum in San Sebastián next Tuesday, November 12, for the third game, scheduled to start at 8:00 PM.

The semifinal series is best-of-seven. The KIA Cup Grand Final will begin two days after the last semifinal concludes.

SEMIFINAL SERIES B

GAME #1 – Thursday, November 7 – 8:00 PM 

Naranjito at San Sebastián – 2-3 (25-20, 25-18, 17-25, 22-25, 15-12)

GAME #2 – Saturday, November 9 – 8:00 PM 

San Sebastián at Naranjito – 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 27-25)

GAME #3 – Tuesday, November 12 – 8:00 PM 

Naranjito at San Sebastián

GAME #4 – Thursday, November 14 – 8:00 PM 

San Sebastián at Naranjito

GAME #5 (IF NECESSARY) – Saturday, November 16 – 8:00 PM 

 Naranjito at San Sebastián

GAME #6 (IF NECESSARY) – Tuesday, November 19 – 8:00 PM 

San Sebastián at Naranjito

GAME #7 (IF NECESSARY) – Friday, November 22 – 8:00 PM 

Naranjito at San Sebastián

YAUCO, Puerto Rico, November 8, 2024. – Cafeteros de Yauco came from behind at the Raúl “Pipote” Oliveras Coliseum to even the Semifinal A series of the Men’s Superior Volleyball League  (LVSM) at one win apiece against the Mets de Guaynabo in a match that extended to five sets.

In the series opener, the Mets overcame a 0-2 deficit to claim victory in the full five sets. This time, Yauco returned the favor by mounting a comeback to secure their own revenge.

Abel Franceschi Ibarrondo, coach of the Cafeteros de Yauco, said, “This is truly a series in which Guaynabo has great depth. As for us, Diego Rosich came off the bench and did his job. If we look back, this series has been saved by the substitute player each time, and that’s very important for both teams. The important thing is that we were able to get our revenge today, tie the series, and defend our home court.”

Regarding what Cafeteros need to do to secure a lead in their next home game, Franceschi Ibarrondo added, “We’re just staying focused on the game plan. This is a young team, and it’s hard to keep them on the game plan for long stretches. We continue working on that aspect with them, and this series will be won by whichever team makes fewer mistakes.”

The scores were 28-30, 14-25, 25-17, 25-22, and 15-13.

In the third set, with two sets down, Cafeteros regrouped and took control. Mark Frazier attacked well from zone four to secure the set at 21-14, and they closed the set at 25-17 with a successful attack from Diego Negrón in zone four.

In the fourth set, Yauco broke away 16-12 and eventually won the set 25-22 following a missed serve from Guaynabo’s Juan C. Ribas, forcing a decisive fifth set.

In the fifth set, after seven ties, Cafeteros took the lead at the court switch with a middle attack from Iván Fernández. The teams stayed tied until point 11; then Diego Negrón scored an ace, and Jessie Colón blocked Gianluca Grasso, pulling Yauco ahead at 13-11. They reached match point at 14-12 with an attack from Rosich in zone four and sealed the win at 15-13 after a missed serve by Grasso.

Yauco outperformed Guaynabo in defense, 46 to 42, while both teams tied with 58 kills and 31 assists. The Mets led in blocks, 11 to 10, and in receptions, 62 to 58.

For Cafeteros, top scorers were Mark Frazier with 26 points, Diego Negrón with 17, and Jessie Colón with 9 points. For the Mets, Gianluca Grasso led with 18 points, followed by Rafael Burgos and Inovel Romero with 15 points each.

The series returns to the Mario “Quijote” Morales Coliseum in Guaynabo this Sunday, November 10, for Game 3, scheduled to begin at 5:00 PM.

The semifinal series are best of 7-4. The Grand Final KIA Cup will begin two days after the final semifinal concludes.

SEMIFINAL A SERIES

GAME #1 – Wednesday, November 6 – 8:00 PM Yauco in Guaynabo / 2-3 (21-25, 20-25, 25-16, 25-20, 15-11)

GAME #2 – Friday, November 8 – 8:00 PM Guaynabo in Yauco / 2-3 (28-30, 14-25, 25-17, 25-22, 15-13)

GAME #3 – Sunday, November 10 – 5:00 PM Yauco in Guaynabo

GAME #4 – Wednesday, November 13 – 8:00 PM Guaynabo in Yauco

GAME #5 (IF NECESSARY) – Friday, November 15 – 8:00 PM Yauco in Guaynabo

GAME #6 (IF NECESSARY) – Monday, November 18 – 8:00 PM Guaynabo in Yauco

GAME #7 (IF NECESSARY) – Thursday, November 21 – 8:00 PM Yauco in Guaynabo