In Castellón on April 22, 2023, a historic moment arrived for two towns in the Medio Vinalopó region, Petrer and Villena. Their volleyball communities joined forces the previous year to pool resources and elevate their clubs toward the Super League 2, with a shared dream: to reach Spain’s elite and compete at the highest level in the sport.
Within two years, alongside a top-tier educational program that has already produced notable results with younger players at Santo Domingo School, Cableworld Villena-Petrer Volleyball earned a place in Castellón. The team earned federation recognition and secured promotion to the Super League for the next season. The following day, the squad prepared for the grand final in the Superliga-2, while Alter Cisneros defeated the host L’Illa Grau, ensuring their own path to the top flight next year.
In pursuit of that milestone, the effort shifted from dream to sustained plan, with the essential support of sponsors and institutions still to be confirmed before the federation finalizes the funding requirements to seal promotion.
Cableworld Villena-Petrer concluded the season with a first-place finish in their group, a result that propelled them into the final stage with real momentum.
Despite a rocky start in the decisive matchup, Villena and Petrer demonstrated grit. The opening game against L’Illa Grau finished 3-1 in favor of the opponent, with set scores of 21-25, 25-23, 29-27, and 25-22, yet the team’s morale remained high as they faced a serious contender later in the tournament.
In the second match, the Petrer-Villena side claimed a notable victory over Vigo Volleyball Club, 3-1, with sets 16-25, 28-26, 19-25, and 22-25, securing a semi-final berth and a spot in the final to vie for promotion.
On the decisive day, Villena and Petrer delivered their best performance, defeating Extremadura’s Almendralejo 3-1, with scores of 29-27, 25-22, 23-25, and 25-16, celebrating a hard-earned win and underscoring the team’s architect and coach’s central role in the journey.
This period marked a notable milestone for the sport in the region, with social media sharing snippets of the team’s progress and the community rallying around the players as they pursued the next level of competition.
Sunday’s final, while emotionally important, was viewed as a step toward a larger objective: the promotion that would grant the region continued participation in Spain’s top flight.
Among the players who helped craft this unforgettable page in Villena and Petrer volleyball were Luis Díaz, Alejandro Sirvent, Joaquín José Grau, Hernán Cárez, Miguel Ciudad, Néstor Francisco Marco, Nestor Piqueres, Eder Piqueres, Francisco González, Alfredo Pla, Álvaro Marí, Sergio Martínez, Tomás Agustín Carlos Hernández. Their contributions were celebrated as a collective achievement in regional sports history.
The roster of Cableworld Villena-Petrer Volleyball, compiled with care and effort, stood as a testament to collaboration between clubs and the local volleyball community. The future would demand ongoing support from sponsors and institutions so the team could continue competing at the highest level in the Super League next season.
Despite not securing promotion for the women’s Aptur Benidorm team in this cycle, the name remains part of the broader regional story. The Benidorm squad competed in the Superliga-2 final stage, showcasing the depth of talent in the Canary Islands and balancing losses against the chance to learn and improve for future campaigns. In their culminating games, they faced MCR Premiá de Dalt, Santa Cruz Costa Piedra, and Extremadura Arroyo, with results that reflected both the challenges and the growth inherent in pursuing the elite level of Spanish volleyball.
Overall, the season left a lasting impression on fans and players alike, underscoring the power of collaboration, ambition, and resilience in cultivating top-tier volleyball in Villena, Petrer, and the surrounding region. The story of these teams serves as a compelling chapter in Spain’s volleyball narrative, illustrating how a shared dream can translate into real, tangible progress on the court. [RFEVB attribution]