Cuesta Piedra Lifts First-Ever 2026 Princess Cup

Santa Cruz Cuesta Piedra recently made history, lifting the 2026 Princess Cup in Torrejón de Ardoz – their first-ever cup title. Now that the initial excitement has settled, it's clearer what this victory means for the club, for a team led by the legendary Lisbet Arredondo, and for a project guided by Francis Hernández, one of the most respected figures in island volleyball.

This Princess Cup win was the result of consistent performance over the past year and a half, especially during the first five months of the current Superliga 2 season. The victory also secured them a spot in the Liga Iberdrola playoffs, with promotion now a clear goal. There's a strong feeling that this time, Cuesta Piedra has something truly special.

The team went into the knockout tournament with an outstanding first half of the season: they were first in Group A, winning 11 out of 12 matches and suffering only one defeat. Despite this strong record, the team remained focused, even when the tournament started with a loss. Coach Francis Hernández remembers that, despite the initial setback against Barça, the team showed positive signs. He admitted they seemed "a bit slower, out of rhythm" after the Christmas break, but stressed that they still competed well against Barça. He described it as "a back-and-forth" game that ultimately went to "a very good team."

From that point on, as the coach emphasized, "what matters are the knockout rounds, and if we failed there, we were out." But Cuesta Piedra didn't fail. After finishing as runners-up in 2015/16 and semi-finalists last season, Francis Hernández's team put past disappointments behind them and improved with each match.

On Saturday, they delivered an impeccable performance, proving they were serious contenders for the title. In the morning, a local derby against Fedes Ascensores La Laguna was a true test of their maturity. After winning the first two sets, the Santa Cruz players had to withstand a strong comeback from La Laguna, led by an inspired Agos Beltramino. However, in the fourth set, the capital team showed complete control, closing out the match with a 3-1 victory. Later that afternoon, in the semi-final, the team once again rose to the occasion, defeating Guía with a convincing 3-0 score.

Sunday's final was the perfect culmination. The Municipal Pavilion of Torrejón de Ardoz was packed as UCAM Torrejón started strong, taking the first set 21-25. Coach Francis Hernández quickly spotted an issue with their reception. He later explained that "reception errors often sent the ball too close to zone two," which "was making it hard for our own middle blocker to play effectively." This crucial correction came just in time. In the second set, Lisbet Arredondo began to make a significant impact, and the Santa Cruz team tied the final with a 25-20 win. From there, they took control of the match, winning the third set 25-12 and the fourth 25-17, securing a hard-fought victory that reflected their strong performance throughout the tournament.

Lisbet Arredondo truly shone, earning the MVP of the tournament. Her influence went far beyond statistics; she was the missing piece. "Last year, someone was missing to bring calm, to bring veteran experience," Hernández summarized.

The coach stressed that the team already had strong attacking players but needed someone to take charge during difficult moments. Arredondo, with her "vast experience," provided that "composure." "In difficult moments, she takes on that role," explained the coach, who, however, prefers not to give all the credit to one player. He emphasized that it wasn't about a single player, but "a tournament where the team played very well." In that regard, he highlighted the "depth of the bench" and the excellent performance of players who came in from the sidelines.

With the trophy now at home and after the emotional high, it's time to "come back down to earth" and focus on the regular league. This Saturday at 5:00 PM, Cuesta Piedra will host Voleibol Madrid, who are ninth in Group A. Their mission: win to remain at the top of the league.