Defending Champions Cangrejeras Still Alive
in the LVSF KIA Finals Series
CAGUAS, Puerto Rico, April 2, 2025. – The defending champions,
Cangrejeras de Santurce, kept their title hopes alive on Friday
night by sweeping the Criollas de Caguas (25-18, 25-21, 25-21) in
the KIA Finals Series of the Women’s Volleyball Superior League
(LVSF).
Coming into the match down 1-3 in the series and having lost the
previous three matches in straight sets, Santurce faced a packed
Roger Mendoza court ready to witness a championship celebration.
Up two sets, the Cangrejeras maintained their rhythm and took a
16-14 lead in the third set thanks to a successful attack by Andrea
Rangel from zone two, going off Stephanie Enright’s block. Later,
Rangel delivered an ace followed by a back-row attack from Tamara
Otene to extend the lead to 19-15. Caguas struggled to recover.
Santurce reached set point at 24-20 with a block on Enright, and it
was Otene who sealed the victory with a clean attack from zone two.
After the match, Cangrejeras setter Andrea Fuentes praised her
team’s character, saying they overcame the 1-3 series deficit with
determination: "Coming here tonight, to a court ready to celebrate,
and being able to win in straight sets shows how much character we
have," said the young setter from Caguas.
Fuentes highlighted team unity and mental composure as key factors
in the win. She also stated that she feels no internal conflict
playing against Caguas, explaining that at this stage of her career,
she prepares to face any opponent with the same mindset.
Meanwhile, Criollas middle blocker Diana Reyes acknowledged her
team’s struggles at the net and with passing but emphasized that the
series is not over yet: "Now we just need to go to practice tomorrow
(Saturday), focus on what went wrong, fix it, and head into Sunday
ready," she concluded.
Offensively, Andrea Rangel led Santurce with 22 points (14 attacks,
3 blocks, and 5 aces). Tamara Otene added 15, Kara McGhee scored 14,
and Helena Grozer chipped in with 11 points.
No player from Caguas reached double digits; Kath Bell was their top
scorer with 9 points.
The Cangrejeras dominated in all facets of the game; 47-34 in
attacks, 12-3 in blocks, 7-4 in aces, 54-51 in digs, 43-34 in
passes, and 18-10 in assists.
The series now returns to the Roberto Clemente Coliseum, home of the
Cangrejeras, for Game 6, scheduled for Sunday at 6:12 p.m. |