By The Star Staff
The Cangrejeras of Santurce defeated the Atenienses of Manatí on Wednesday night in the second game of the 2024 final series of the Women’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSF).
Santurce rallied for the victory with set scores of 25-21, 23-25, 23-25, 25-23 and 16-14, at the Juan Aubín Cruz Abreu Coliseum in Manatí.
The Santurce sextet trailed in the fourth set, 16-10, at the second technical timeout for Manatí. The hosts threatened to take the victory by expanding their lead, 22-20, but errors were their undoing, giving the Cangrejeras a path to come back and win, 25-23, and force a fifth set.
In the fifth set, Manatí led, 8-7, at the change of sides. Santurce quickly scored twice to take the lead, 9-8, and Manatí called time. Upon returning to action, the hosts scored four straight points and managed to build leads of 12-10 and 14-11.
It was then that the turning point came. A block by center back Neira Ortiz on Zoe Weatherington started Santurce’s streak of five points, three of them due to errors with shots outside the lines. The final touch was applied by Shirley Florián with a block on Jonnalys Matos, to close 16-14, and take a 2-0 advantage in the series.
For Santurce, McKenzie Adams scored 17 points, 16 in attacks, with one block, 15 digs and 24 assists; Andrea Rangel contributed 16 points, 14 in attacks, two in blocks and with 14 digs; Helena Havelkova had 15 points, 12 in attacks, three in blocks, with six digs and 15 assists; setter Carli Lloyd finished with 10 points, six in attacks, four in blocks, with 16 digs and 29 assists; and Neira Ortiz notched eight points, five in attacks and three in blocks.
For Manatí, Zoe Weatherington was the game’s top scorer with 28 points, 25 in attacks, three in blocks, with 16 digs; Karla Santos had 16 points, 15 in attacks, one block, with 12 digs and 20 assists; María Schlegel had 15 points, 14 in attacks, one block, with 19 digs and 12 assists. Claudia Dillon and Jonnalys Matos scored six points each.
The final series will continue Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in Hato Rey.