Caguas One Win Away from the LVSF Championship
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, April 30, 2025.-
The Criollas de Caguas earned their third victory over the
Cangrejeras de Santurce, moving just one win away (3-1) from
claiming the Kia Final Series title of the Women’s Volleyball
Superior League (LVSF) of Puerto Rico.
Caguas won in straight sets, 3-0 (27-25, 25-18, 26-24).
With the visitors up two sets, both teams split the technical
timeouts in the third set. Santurce led the first one 8-7, with
Neira Ortiz performing effectively through the middle. Caguas took
the second technical timeout at 16-15 thanks to an attacking error
by Helena Grozer, whose hit from zone four got caught in the net.
Attacking from zone four, Santurce's Andrea Rangel committed an
error that gave the Criollas a three-point lead (18-15). Santurce
responded with pressure, showing strong net play and defense. After
trailing 21-24, they rallied with three consecutive points to tie
the set and force extra points. However, their surge wasn’t enough
to extend the match.
The Criollas earned set point at 25-24 when Sofía Victoria broke
through the Cangrejeras’ block. On the next play, Temi Thomas Ailara
sealed the win for Caguas with an attack from zone four.
Following the victory, Criollas libero Okiana Valle De Jesús said:
“This series isn’t over yet; we have to come out and play again on
Friday. That’s our focus. It’s not over until the final point is
played and the whistle blows.”
She revealed that Caguas’ key to success, winning nine straight sets
so far, has been staying focused on the present:
“We’re not thinking about the future or the championship. We’re
going game by game, point by point, trying to do our best and make
adjustments in the moment to win the first set, then the second, and
the third, and ultimately the match. Most of all, we hope to close
the series in Caguas and enjoy it,” she concluded.
The top scorers for Caguas were Kath Bell with 18 points, followed
by Temi Thomas Ailara with 15, and Kristin Lux with 11.
For Santurce, Tamara Otene led with 15 points, followed by Neira
Ortiz with 12, and Kara McGhee with 10.
The series returns to Caguas this Friday at the Roger Mendoza
Coliseum at 8:00 p.m.
Las
Cangrejeras de Santurce are the defending champions. |