Cangrejeras sign Neira Ortiz for 2026 LVSF season

Standout middle blocker Neira Ortiz has joined Santurce for the upcoming LVSF season.

By THE STAR STAFF

The runner-up Cangrejeras of Santurce announced late last week the signing of standout middle blocker Neira Ortiz for the 2026 season of the Liga de Voleibol Superior Femenino (LVSF by its initials in Spanish).

From a young age, Ortiz has showcased her exceptional talent, joining Puerto Rico’s Youth National Team at just 14 years old. Her athletic development earned her a scholarship to the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she completed her college education while excelling in NCAA volleyball.

Ortiz began her professional career in 2016, competing in Puerto Rico and prestigious leagues across Peru, Germany, Hungary, Romania and Poland. Her solid play has established her as one of the most respected middle blockers in the region and globally.

Ortiz’s global recognition peaked at the 2022 World Championship in the Netherlands, where she was ranked among the top three middle blockers of the tournament. That same year, the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee endorsed her as Volleyball Athlete of the Year, an award granted by the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation.

Recently this summer, Ortiz once again shined with the national team, earning titles as Best Blocker and Best Middle Blocker at the NORCECA (North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation) Women’s Final Four held in Manatí, reaffirming her leadership and elite performance on the court.

“With the national and international experience Neira brings, we’re strengthening our defensive structure and raising the team’s competitive level for the upcoming season,” Cangrejeras head coach Pascual Saurín said.