Puerto Rico’s Men’s Volleyball History

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FIVB World Ranking #16 FIVB World Ranking #21

Volleyball start in the Island of Puerto Rico near to the 1915. The little Island with a population about 3.5 million at that time got help of North American teachers and priests who introduce the sport ofvolleyball to schools in towns like Naranjito, Yauco, Aguada, Corozal,Comerio, Barranquitas and the metropolitan zone of the Island. Then, by the 1920’s, native people organize insular competitions that includes a USA Army local base volleyball team.

The YMCA also take an important role in Puerto Rico’s Volleyball development, when a team from Pittsburgh play some friendly games in the island against the top teams of the native league. By that time each team play’s with 3 setters and 3 hitters at the same time, and the rules are so different that the rules we have now.

By 1938 Puerto Rico won his first Gold Medal on international competitions in The Fourth Central American and Caribbean Games, beating Mexico 15-8 and 15-12.

In 1958 Born the Puerto Rico Volleyball Federation guided by ex-players and sports leaders like

Dr. German Vázquez, Santos Valles, Alejandrino Román y Pepe Arrache and Lic. Luis Purcell as President.

The first season count with 10 teams divided in two sections, North and South. They call this tournament “The Pre-Olympic”, and started inAugust

1958Regular Season

Norte G/P Sur G/PNaranjito 9-1 Yauco 5-1

Rio Piedras 9-1 Ponce 5-1Santurce 6-4 Aguada 2-4Hato Rey 3-7 Guayama 0-6Ciales 3-7 ---- ----Army 0-10 ---- ----

Semi FinalsNaranjit

o 2-1 Rio Piedras 2-0

Yauco 1-2 Ponce 0-2Final

Naranjito 2-0Rio Piedras 0-2

In the 1959 Finals, the Naranjito Team present on court two reinforcement Yugoslavian players (Gabriel Budishing and Julio Yost) against Yauco, on a creole league and that cause protests, so Yauco retires his team and lost the championship.

Among years go by volleyball grows all over the island. Until 1981 to 1983, USA University UCLA visit the Island to play a friendly series against a local and powerful team call Patriotas de Lares. This seriesgive a boost to fans follow up to local volleyball. Players like KarchKiraly, Dough Parttie among others participate in this series.

By 1986 sixteen clubs participate in two divisions on the league. A large number of fans follow their favorite teams town to town. It was a golden era in volleyball. Games on TV, great balanced matches, presscoverage and full house almost every night. This volleyball fever continues for 25 years with an addition of foreigner players like Rafael Pascual (Spain), Jose Matthews (Venezuela), Ivan Milcovic (Argentina), Kid Teixeira (Brazil), Ivan Contreras (Mexico) among others, the incursion of USA University players, a statistical system and big courts. This put the league on the top, but National representations don’t shine on internationals competitions.

At this decade, local volleyball are in jeopardy because an economic crisis. Fans are absent so the courts are empty. People prefer to stayat home or do some other things, meanwhile the National teams are doing well on international competitions and represent the Island on World league, World Championship and the ladies on Grand Prix. So we hope that the local league can revive again and show us that in the little Island volleyball can go Big again!!!

Ivan Jimenez

Teacher, Volleyball Historian

Retired coach and Patriotas volleyball club owner since 1992 to 1998.