LA LAGUNA storm to 3-1 home victory to set sights on #CEVCupW 8th Finals

Tenerife Libby’s LA LAGUNA is hungry for success and the Spaniards are pursuing their dream of glory on the European stage too. On Tuesday night, the home team claimed a 3-1 victory (25-15, 25-16, 16-25, 25-19) over KAPOSVÁRI NRC of Hungary in the first leg of the 2025 CEV Volleyball Cup 16th Finals. This result shows that the strong form they have been displaying in their domestic league has translated onto the European scene. The ‘Blanquiazules’, who delivered their first European win of the season at the Pablos Abril, will now face a tough challenge in Hungary on Wednesday, November 13, where they will battle for a place in the next round.

Both teams came out with intensity and focus, fighting hard from the very first point. However, Tenerife Libby’s LA LAGUNA quickly asserted their dominance, fuelled by the energy of their home crowd. A four-point run, with a powerful serving display by Lana Radakovic, pushed the score to 5-1. The home side continued to dominate, and with a five-point lead, the Hungarian coach called for the first timeout of the match. After the break, Blanquiazul captain Lisbet Arredondo made a stunning reception followed by a kill to give her team a massive 13-6 lead. Tenerife maintained their impressive level of performance, and with the crowd roaring in support, the set ended 25-15 with a solid block by Yeisy Soto.

The second set started in a similar fashion. Tenerife Libby’s LA LAGUNA overwhelmed the Hungarian side early on, opening this section of the match with a 6-1 lead. Belly Nsungimina’s powerful attacks and Quinn Pelland’s crafty plays further stretched the advantage. However, the visitors, realising the game was quickly slipping away, stepped up their intensity, scoring several points in a row. Despite the negative streak, Tenerife halted the momentum with a long rally that ended in a mistake from the Hungarian side. A clever tip by Pelland sealed the set 25-16 win, thus giving the home side a 2-0 lead overall.

The third set was a different story. Tenerife came out unfocused, allowing the visitors to jump to an 8-3 advantage. Facundo Morando called his first timeout to address tactical issues. The Pablos Abril crowd responded with a huge cheer to lift the team’s spirits. Still, the Hungarians’ superior play in this set created a noticeable gap on the scoreboard. A well-timed shot by the hosts brought Tenerife closer, but a block-out by the visitors sealed the set 25-16, thus bringing the score to 2-1.

A pre-set pep talk, as well as chants from the home crowd, were enough to spark Tenerife Libby’s LA LAGUNA back to life in the fourth set. With sharp serving and determination, they regained the lead, forcing the Hungarian coach to call another timeout. Eugenia Nosach served an ace, extending the home team’s momentum. Later, Pelland kept the pressure on with consistent serving. A long, hard-fought rally between the two teams ended in Tenerife’s favour, making it 13-10. The lead was briefly tied at 16-16 after a home side’s attack error, but the teamwork and resilience of the hosts ultimately secured a 3-1 win, thus keeping their European dream alive. Tenerife will travel to Hungary on November 13, clearly aiming to secure their spot in the 8th Finals.