Corozal defends home court, ties B semifinals against Yauco

The fourth set was a defensive display by Corozal as the Plataneros built a wall with two consecutive blocks to take a 19-17 lead, and later closed out the set with four straight blocks.

By THE STAR STAFF

The battle for a spot in the finals of the Men’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSM by its initials in Spanish) is more alive than ever with the B Semifinal Series now tied at one win apiece after the Plataneros of Corozal fiercely defended their home court, Carmen Z. Figueroa Arena, defeating the Cafeteros of Yauco in four sets on Monday night, 26-24, 19-25, 25-22 and 25-19.

After Yauco won the second set to pull even in the match, Corozal regained its rhythm in the third. Two strong attacks by Jalen Penrose from zone two took the Plataneros to set point at 24-21, and a back-row spike by Spencer Olivier, which slipped through the triple Yauco block, closed the set 25-22, giving the hosts a two-sets-to-one lead.

The fourth set was a defensive display by Corozal. The Plataneros built a wall with two consecutive blocks -- one on Brandon Rattray and another on Juan Felipe Castañeda -- to take a 19-17 lead, and later closed out the set with four straight blocks.

Points 22 and 23 came courtesy of Olivier, again blocking Rattray and Jessie Colón. Penrose and Guillermo Moya scored the set point with a shared block on Diego Negrón, and on the next play, Moya blocked Negrón again to seal the victory.

Penrose led the Corozal offense with 35 points (30 attacks, 3 blocks and 2 aces). He was followed by Olivier with 15 points.

For Yauco, Rattray and Castañeda scored 15 points each, while Negrón added 12.

The best-of-7 series continues this Friday at Raúl “Pipote” Oliveras Coliseum in Yauco, home of the Cafeteros, starting at 8 p.m.

In Semifinal A, the Caribes of San Sebastián were leading the Patriotas of Lares 2-0 heading into Tuesday night’s third match at Luis Aymat Cardona Coliseum in San Sebastián.