Puerto Rican League 2007

[USAFAN]

Well since nobody has been posting information I thought I'd attempt to do a quick rundown

The rankings are the following.

1. Corozal 11-1
2. Juncos 11-1
3. Mayaguez 9-3
4. Caguas 7-5
5. Toa Baja 7-5
6. Bayamon 6-6
7. Carolina 4-8
8. Ponce 3-9
9. Aguadilla 2-10
10. Guaynabo 0-12

Foreign Players
Corozal: Megan Cumpston (USA), Kim Glass (USA)
Juncos: Ann Marie Lemeux (CAN)
Mayaguez: Jessica Vander Kooi (USA), Keao Burdine (USA), Nana Meriwether (USA), Amanda Vasquez (Listed as PR but from HI, so USA)
Caguas: Katie Carter (USA), Erin Moore (USA)
Toa Baja: Laura Daniela Lloreda (MEX), Graciela Marquez (VEN)
Bayamon: Bethania de la Cruz (DOM), Evelyn Carreras (DOM)
Carolina: Yasary Castrodad (CUB), Amy Morris (USA), Michelle Piantadosi (USA)
Ponce: Jamie DeKiewiet (USA), Kelly Wing (USA)
Aguadilla: Lindsey Stalzer (USA), Jennifer Abernathy (USA)
Guaynabo: Melissa Elmer (USA), Jenn Saleaumua (USA)

Stat Leaders

Kills: Kelly Wing
Assist: Glorimar Ortega
Aces: Graciela Marquez
Blocks: Sheila Ocasio
Digs: Karla Laviera
Points: Graciela Marquez

Seems to be a down year in terms of the foreign talent that the league attracted. Without huge names like Metcalf, Willoughby, Gordon in the league there hasn't been much interest outside of PR. However the season is fairly young so hopefully things will get more interesting.

[OverAndUnder]

Yeah, I haven't had time to keep up this year.
It's good to see Chela Marquez is still the points leader -- in the age of rally scoring I like when a pretty well-rounded player can still shine.

How is it that Las Indias have 3 refuerzos? Amanda Vazquez has a 'rican father, so I think she gets counted as local by the league. However, Meriweather, Burdine, and vander Kooi all on one team??

[OverAndUnder]

Aha - I found it. Since Las Indias de Mayaguez lost Shannon Torregrosa to injury while she was with the national team, the league gave them an emergency waiver to allow a third foreign player.

[bigfan]

Thanks for the updates.....No April Ross this year?

[OverAndUnder]

bigfan said:

Thanks for the updates.....No April Ross this year?

The official word is that April is choosing to focus on her budding AVP career, but I've seen a few articles alluding to mismanagement at her team, Las Leonas de Ponce, so maybe there was also a, how you say, difference of opinion on the issue of promised salary vs. actual paychecks?

It seems this year several of the previous wave (2002-2004) of players from the USA have either quit or moved on. Most of those on this year's PR teams are fresh 2005/2006 grads.

Kristee Porter and Rachel vanMeter left las Gigantes, to be replaced by Piantadosi and Amy Morris, who have apparently had a hard time making the transition.

Corozal lost Ogonna (Europe) and Laura Jones (originally had transferred to the Valencianas, but I heard there were payment issues there as well; so she came back here and hired as an assistant at ACU but left open the option of returning during spring) and replaced them with Meghan Cumpston and Kim Glass, who have been doing well from most accounts.

Caguas lost Willoughby (Europe) and now plays with Katie Carter and Erin Moore.

I notice Dariam Acevedo has returned home and will be playing (OPP) alongside Melissa Elmer and Kristen Carlson with the Mets of Guaynabo. This team roster seems to rotate a lot. I'm not exactly sure who all is playing for them. Hmmm.... Laura Jones and Jennifer Saleaumua may or may not be on their team. Looking at box scores for their games so far is like a Big12 reunion.

Las Valencianas de Juncos don't have any players from the US, but they do have both the Ocasio sisters.

[foreignball]

Any updates how the season is going in PR?

[standingroomonly1]

foreignball said:

Any updates how the season is going in PR?

Website is www.zonazaguera.com next screen hit Entra then on the right side hit LSVF in orange, you get the team standings. It is the official site of the league. Terrific coverage of mens and womens vb. Looking around you can discover stuff even if you don't speak Spanish.