The Volleyball Federation of Puerto Rico announced the Native and Foreign-Imported Players rosters for the Women’s Superior League All Star Game.
The Game is scheduled on Monday March 2 at the Rafael Amalbert Coliseum in the city of Juncos.
The Natives’ squad will be composed of 12 players that were active with the National Team during the 2014 season, while a total of 10 non-Puerto Rican born players will be part of the Foreign and Imported Stars.
The Natives’ team setters are Vilmarie Mojica, who plays for Juncos and Natalia Valentin, who is part of the Ponce Volleyball Club. The middle blockers selected are Sheila Ocasio (Juncos), Odemaris Díaz (Carolina), and Jessica Candelario (Mayagüez).
The outside hitters are Stephanie Enright (Caguas), Yarimar Rosa (Juncos), Legna Hernández (Ponce) and Vanessa Vélez (Carolina).
The Puerto Rican Federation also remarked that the opposite players nominated are Shirley Ferrer (Catano), Sarai Alvarez (Mayaguez) and Karina Ocasio (Caguas).
Nayka Benitez of Ponce and Deborah Seilhamer of Catano were selected as liberos while Juan Carlos Nunez was elected as head coach, assisted by Gabriel Rodríguez, Luis García, Cristian Martínez and Víctor Correa.
The Imported stars will play with a roster of 10 players, coached by Rigoberto “Rigo” Guilloty, whose technical staff will be composed by Henry Collazo, Carlos Almeyda and Fernando Torres.
Originally Kim Willoughby and Lauren Cook from United States were nominated. However, due to injuries and personal issues, they had to return to their country.
Cook was released by the Mayaguez Indians after suffering a right hand injury and will return to the United States for a possible surgery. According to coach Guilloty, Wiloughby will miss the All Star Game to attend to the funeral of one of her uncles.
Due to these absences, Caguas Criollas’ Jennifer Nogueras was chosen to play as setter, while Olena Ustymenko of the Cataño Lancheras, was selected as hitter.
“We had no more choices for imported setters, so we chose Jennifer Nogueras, after she played a very good season as a rookie,” said Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation Vice President, Elliot Matias.
Two Cuban players will appear as middle blockers: Yasary Castrodad (Juncos) and Dulce María Téllez (Catano). Also two of the best foreign liberos were added to the roster: Greyshmarie Pérez (Naranjito) and Stephanie Salas (Carolina).
Caithlyn Donahue (Catano) was also selected as setter, while Jessica Jones (Caguas) will play as middle blocker. The players assigned as outside hitters for the Foreign-Imported team are Kristy Jaeckel (Naranjito), Savannah Leaf (Caguas) and McKenzie Adams (Mayaguez).
The opposite players that will represent the non-Puerto Rican born athletes are Elizabeth McMahon (Juncos), Chaniel Nelson (Ponce) and Rachel Kidder (Carolina).
This will be the tenth time that the Natives and Imported Volleyball Stars will play. The Imported Stars have won seven of the nine previous matches. The Natives have only won in the editions of 2002 and 2008.