Cisneros Alter Opens Season Against Champions After Roster Overhaul

After a big makeover, but with the same goals, Cisneros Alter kicks off its 2025/26 season in the Men's Superliga, the top volleyball league in Spain. This Saturday at 6:30 PM, they'll face the reigning champions, Guaguas, on their home court.

With eight new players and a new coach, the university team aims to become a strong contender in the league. This will be the third year in a row that Tomy López's team has competed in the Superliga.

Leading the revamped team is Miguel Rivera, the new coach. Matías Guidolin stepped down after four seasons, and Cisneros quickly found Rivera as his replacement.

Rivera has a successful track record, having won two league titles and two Copa del Rey titles with Teruel. He also coached the Spanish national team, leading them to qualify for the 2023 European Championship. However, he left the national team and joined Tenerife Libby's La Laguna, where things didn't go as planned, and he was dismissed shortly before the Copa de la Reina.

Rivera sees his new role at Cisneros as a chance to move past his disappointing experience with Libby's. The Madrid native is "very happy to be back on the Island" and eager to "remove that thorn from a not very positive experience from two years ago." He explains, "When they called me, I felt a lot of joy. I want to do a good job and help the club continue to grow, which is the challenge we all share."

After a brief period in Japan to focus on his "mental health," Rivera is optimistic about the challenge ahead. He feels the preseason went well, saying, "I hope we haven't reached our full potential yet because I think this team has a high ceiling. We need to keep improving throughout the season."

Their first challenge is against Guaguas from Gran Canaria, a local rivalry against "the team to beat." Rivera acknowledges the importance of the match, saying, "It will be special because of the regional rivalry, not to mention San Roque. But we also know that these aren't the most crucial points for achieving our goals. They are a team built to be at the top." However, he assures that Cisneros will "give it their all and fight for every point," even in what he considers "the most complicated match of the year."

Sergio Noda, a veteran player from Spain and Cuba, will continue as captain under Rivera's leadership. Noda, who is 38, was captain last season, his first with the team. He believes the team has "quite good" feelings, but emphasizes that "the court will do the talking." He also thinks that starting the season with a derby match could be beneficial for the team. The fact that teams are still "adjusting things" at the beginning of the season might give Cisneros an advantage at the Gran Canaria Arena. Noda recognizes the difficulty of the match, stating, "It will be a complicated match against a team built to win the League, no question. The rest of the Spanish teams have to try to make things as difficult as possible for them. We have to work hard."

Noda's experience and performance are valuable, especially in a young team with players who "already have some experience at a high level." He explains, "That means they already understand certain aspects of the game and aren't starting from scratch. There's a good foundation, and we'll build from there." He praises the new players for adapting "greatly" to the group and being "very hardworking." This combination of experience and youth is the key to "creating good chemistry" and achieving their goals: qualifying for the Copa del Rey and the playoff finals. "It won't be easy because all the teams have strengthened their squads," Noda admits.

Tomy López, the team's president, is excited to have Rivera as the new coach, calling him a "luxury coach" after Guidolin's departure. He highlights the connection between the Superliga team and the reserve team in Superliga 2, emphasizing the importance of a strong foundation of veteran players like Sergio, Adrián Oliva, Fran Duque, and Nacho Roberts. "We have a coach with a strong work ethic and a lot of experience. We're happy and looking forward to the season," says López.

Despite the many changes, Cisneros aims to maintain its identity as "a team that fights for every point." The goal is to avoid the "ups and downs" they experienced in the past, where they started "very well" but then struggled in December. This year, they want to be "more consistent." Rivera's focus on statistics will be crucial, as López explains, "He studies the opponent and our weaknesses a lot, and he's a very tactical coach."

José Osado is one of the new faces on the Cisneros team. The 28-year-old libero has a lot of experience in Spanish volleyball, including playing for other island clubs like Ibiza and Palma. "They're similar in some ways, but there are also many differences," he says with a smile.

Osado describes his adaptation process as "quite easy," saying, "The truth is, I'm very, very comfortable, both in the club and on the Island." He's "accustomed to changing teams," so the new environment isn't a problem for him. He also points out that the new players and the returning players are adapting together. "When there are so many changes in the squad and also a new coach, it's easier because we all adapt and work together in the same direction. We've formed a very good group; it feels like we've been together for two years," he says.

Osado is also known for his distinctive hairstyle: a single dreadlock that he's had since he was 14. "I've spent half my life with it," he says. "I had a full head of dreadlocks for two years, but this is the only one that stayed. And it will stay there until I get bored." Or, he jokes, until Cisneros wins a title, because he's bet his teammates that he'll cut it off if they do.