Preps

Ridgewood volleyball player is getting her point across

Sarangelys Cruz is new to this country but her play speaks volumes.

By DAVID MURPHY, Times Staff Writer
Published October 4, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - One great thing about America?

The noise of a volleyball hitting the floor is the same, even if everything else sounds like an LP spinning at the wrong speed.

That's why when you ask Sarangelys Cruz if she likes it here in her new home, her eyes widen and she nods.

"She has fit right in with the team," Ridgewood coach Amber Starkey said, "and the girls have been very welcoming."

Only a sophomore, Cruz has established herself as one of the area's top young players, leading the Rams to a 6-6 record despite moving to Florida from Puerto Rico less than three months ago. Heading into Ridgewood's match against Land O'Lakes on Tuesday, she was first on the team with 88 digs and second with 87 kills and 39 blocks.

Against the Gators, she added 10 kills as the Rams gave the Sunshine Athletic Conference leaders fits before losing in four games.

"She's amazing," Land O'Lakes coach Michelle Griffin said. "Honestly, if you were looking at her, you'd think she was a senior because she's so developed."

And for that, you can thank that little island nation to our south - Puerto Rico, exporter of fine products like sugar cane, coffee and volleyball players.

Cruz grew up in Toa Alta, a town on the island's northern coast, west of the capital city of San Juan. Also known as the "Cradle of Poets," it's the home of the Bala de Canon, a legendary tree famous for its yellow, red and white flowers. It's also where Cruz began playing organized volleyball at age 11, though she started hitting long before that.

"She started at 4," said her father, Nelson Rosa, a former club coach.

The popularity of volleyball has risen steadily in Puerto Rico the past couple decades. Tim Kelly, an All-American at UCLA in the early 1990s, has spent a considerable amount of time in Puerto Rico. The nation's top professional league, the Superior League, features packed crowds and televised broadcasts.

"It's gotten really popular," said Kelly, whose company, Bring It promotions, represents pro volleyball players around the world.

As a result, players like Cruz pick up the sport much earlier than their American counterparts.

"The kids that come out of Puerto Rico are more experienced because they start at a younger age," said University of Tampa coach Chris Catanach, whose team features two players from the island, "and because of that experience they are a little more technical in their ability."

Griffin, the Land O'Lakes coach, saw that firsthand when she played for Zephyrhills in the late 1990s. The Bulldogs were led by setter Liz Torres, who moved to Pasco County from Puerto Rico and helped them reach the Class 4A final four.

Ridgewood would have to upset River Ridge and Land O'Lakes in the district tournament to make a similar run, but the Rams' future is bright. Cruz and outside hitters Aleesa and Daylyn Williamson, both juniors, will be around next season.

For now, Cruz is more concerned with learning English than where she'll attend college.

She says her mother's cooking - a lot of beans and rice - provides a little piece of home. Though she misses her friends "a lot," she has bonded with teammates. "I've made a lot of friends," she said.

Volleyball appears to be a dialect everyone can understand.

David Murphy can be reached at dmurphy@sptimes.com or (352) 848-1407.

[Last modified October 3, 2007, 20:25:52]