Tenerife Libby’s LA LAGUNA falls short of a comeback

The effort was there, with a passionate crowd and players fully charged from the start, but it just was not enough. Tenerife Libby’s LA LAGUNA played with courage to overturn the 1-3 deficit from the first leg played at Pavelló Municipal de Ciutadella. However, the 2-0 lead taken by the visitors of Avarca de MENORCA dashed the home team’s hopes. Despite fighting until the end, the match concluded with a 3-1 scoreline, thereby sending Avarca de MENORCA to the CEV Cup Playoff Round. 

The energy at Pabellon Pablos Abril laid the foundation for a potential comeback, inspiring a team that came out firing, especially captain Lisbet Arredondo. Building on an early lead, Facundo Morando’s squad stuck to their game plan, scoring effectively and controlling their opponents’ attacks (8-6). During this phase, several clever plays by Quinn Pelland dropped the ball into open spaces. However, Avarca showcased their power and, through strong defence, levelled the game (12-12). That is when the home team’s fighting spirit emerged, securing a 3-0 run that forced the visiting coach to call a timeout.

Upon returning to the court, the Menorcan team was completely transformed, playing with greater intensity on defence and efficiency in their attacks. They not only tied the score at 18 but also pulled ahead (20-18). LA LAGUNA did not give up, but they could not recover the lost ground and conceded the set 21-25. The visitors had the upper hand, but there was still much left to play for.

The second set began in a less promising way for the Tenerife side. The hosts tried everything, but the Balearic defence seemed impenetrable (4-7). Morando called the first timeout with the score standing at 5-10. The game continued along similar lines, but a point by Arredondo after a hard-fought rally brought the crowd to their feet and ignited some hope (9-12). Nevertheless, a 0-3 run after the break was a severe blow for Tenerife. The spirit of Tenerife Libby’s LA LAGUNA kept them fighting, but every point scored by the visitors felt like a dagger to their hearts (12-19).

The momentum shifted when players like Elise Petit, Belly Nsungimina, and Lana Radakovic showed their winning mentality, rallying their team back into contention. With the score at 19-22, the crowd at Pablos Abril believed in yet another comeback. However, it was not to be. As in the first set, Avarca executed better in the final moments, taking the set 25-20. This 2-0 scoreline in favour of the visitors confirmed the home side’s elimination, but the players could not afford to give up - they owed it to their loyal fans who had stayed in their seats.

For the third set, Facundo Morando stuck with his lineup, while the Menorcan team made several changes. Despite the score, the Tenerife team came out energised, dominating the set almost from start to finish. Only a brief challenge from the Balearic side at 9-10 disrupted an otherwise smooth performance. Regaining control soon after, the rest of the set saw clear dominance from the home team. LA LAGUNA faced little opposition and comfortably closed the set 25-15, earning their first point of the match. Yet, they wanted the victory.

The fourth set began evenly, but Avarca de MENORCA pushed to close the match as quickly as possible (11-8). Maintaining a lead of three to four points, the visitors managed to keep the home team at bay, despite their relentless efforts (16-13). In a gymnasium that never stopped cheering for its team, the unwavering support pushed the home favourites to challenge their opponents with scores of 17-19 and an even closer at 20-21. However, at this stage, nothing went Tenerife Libby’s LA LAGUNA’s way, and they ultimately fell behind. A heartbreaking result and elimination for the local team, who still gave it their all on the court. As for Avarca, in the next round they will play either CS Volei Alba BLAJ of Romania or Czechia’s VK PROSTEJOV.