The season began with high hopes for the Elche squad, who stepped onto the court ready to prove themselves. The Green fringe warriors entered the campaign with a clear goal: earn their status through merit and push for every championship title. Their rivals quickly acknowledged the threat, recognizing that Elche could become a genuine force in the league.
On opening day, the squad from Costa del Sol faced a tough test as they sought to avenge a previous setback against Malaga, a game that would set the tone for the early narrative of the season. It was a battle characterized by intense defense, determined offense, and a final surge that sealed a hard-fought victory for the home team.
A result that carried extra weight when considering the first matchup against Rocasa Canarias, where the Galicians had leveraged a sizable edge. The Porriño team showed their resilience, trading goals in a stadium that demanded every ounce of concentration. The encounter featured a disciplined defensive effort and a counterattack that kept opponents under pressure. Three standout performances helped define the outcome: Tessa Van Zijl with three goals, Danila So Delgado tallying five, and the young Brazilian Kelly Rosa contributing eight. Rosa’s versatility, playing both central and lateral roles, provided Elche with numerous options in attack. Nicole Morales continued to be a stabilizing presence, a factor that had become familiar to fans and opponents alike.
In the middle of the game, Rocamora’s team demonstrated their depth by rotating the lineup, ensuring every player received meaningful minutes. This approach helped Elche sustain pressure and control the tempo as the match wore on. The striking feature of the evening was the balance across the lineup, with outfield players contributing while the defensive specialist María Flores supported the backbone of the team from the edge of the defense.
The opening minutes saw a tightly contested start, with both sides trading leads. Elche established an early edge and extended it in the middle portion of the first period. By the time five minutes elapsed in the second stage, Rocamora’s side was ahead by a margin that reflected their growing confidence on court. The scoreboard showed a frame of 11-15 as the teams swapped possession and pressure intensified.
The second half brought a steady display of strategic discipline from Elche. The coach’s plan, coupled with a broader rotation that kept legs fresh, allowed the team to widen their advantage. Porriño, sensing the momentum shifting, could not keep pace with Elche’s tempo and gradually conceded the lead. The final minutes were a calm closeout, and Elche secured a convincing 23-32 win that reinforced their growing stature in the league.
DATA SHEET:
Canned Orbe Rusena Porriño: Carolina Bono, Alicia Campo, Malena Vallés, Inés Hernández, Fátima Ayelen, Aitana Santomé, Lucía Álvarez, Ana Belén Palomino, Aroa Fernández, Maider Barros, Saria Santomé, Paulina Buforn, Carmen Prelchi, Marta Groba, Maite Martínez and Lucía Castiñeira.
AtticGo Elche: Nicole Morales, Marisol Carratu, Katia Zhukova, Tessa Van Zijl, Lisa Oppedal, Celia Guilabert, Patricia Méndez, Nuria Andreu, Danila So Delgado, Clara Gascó, María Flores, Zaira Benítez, Pipy Wolfs, Paola Bernabé, Alexandra Do Nascimento and Kelly Rosa.
A MARKER EVERY 5 MINUTES: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 9-11, 11-12, 11-15, 13-17, 15-21, 16-24, 17-25, 20-27, 23-32.
REFEREES: Pablo San Emeterio and Javier Ariño.
PAVILLION: Donors of Sangue de Porriño.