Cisneros La Laguna Draws Second-Placed Soria in Copa del Rey Quarters

Cisneros La Laguna knows they face a huge challenge in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Copa del Rey. The draw, which took place for the tournament held at Valencia's Fuente de San Luis Pavilion (February 26 to March 1), has set up a tough first-round match for the Tenerife team: they will play Grupo Herce Soria Voleibol. The Soria team is currently second in the Men's Superliga and is considered one of the top contenders to win the title.

This highly anticipated match between Cisneros La Laguna and Grupo Herce Soria Voleibol is scheduled for Friday, February 27, at 4:00 PM (Canary Islands time). If Miguel Rivera's team can get past this first big hurdle, they would then play the winner of the CV Melilla vs. Conqueridor Valencia match in the semifinals. On the other side of the bracket, CV Guaguas will play Pamesa Teruel Vb, and Conectabalear CV Manacor will face UC3M Voleibol Leganés, with both teams also hoping to reach the semifinals.

The recent history between the Tenerife team and the Soria team is not a happy one. In their last game against each other, at the end of November, Cisneros lost when they visited Los Pajaritos. The Tenerife side suffered a clear 3-0 defeat in the sixth round of the Superliga, which also broke their two-game winning streak. To find Cisneros Alter's last win against Río Duero Soria, you have to go back to October 11, 2024. On that occasion, they won 3-1 at home in the first leg of the CEV Challenge Cup. A good memory, but one that feels a bit distant now. The next match between the islanders and the Soria team at Ríos Tejera is set for Saturday, March 7, 2026.

The team led by Alberto Toribio, who won the Copa del Rey in 2023, will be a tough opponent. However, on paper, this match seems more manageable for Cisneros than last season, when they were knocked out in the first round by Guaguas in a 3-1 Canarian derby. Two seasons ago, the memory was sweeter: the Tenerife team reached the semifinals after beating CV Melilla Ciudad del Deporte 3-1. Their cup dream ended in that same round, also against Guaguas.

Cisneros La Laguna president, Tomy López, emphasized that qualifying for the Copa del Rey this season is a big achievement. He said, "Just getting in is already a success, considering how tough the league has become and that historic teams have missed out." The Tenerife executive also highlighted the tournament's new format, which he believes "is more like what a Copa del Rey should be, where the draw and luck also play a role." He was pleased that they avoided CV Guaguas until a potential final. About the match against Grupo Herce Soria Voleibol, López admitted that "apart from Guaguas, they are the team playing best right now." However, he made it clear that "they are not impossible" and that Cisneros "believes they have a chance, as long as the team performs like they have in recent games." With enthusiasm and ambition, the president stressed that their goal is "to have a good tournament," consistent with the club's past performances since returning to the Superliga.

After their 3-2 victory against Pamesa Teruel last weekend – a nearly two-hour match that secured Cisneros's spot in the Copa del Rey – two of their players were named to the 'ideal seven' team for the eleventh round of the Men's Superliga. These players are libero José Osado and middle blocker Fabián Flores, who is making his second appearance in this elite selection.