The upcoming Argentine Volleyball League will feature 10 teams, marking the first time without teams from San Juan. Over the past two seasons, San Juan has lost all three of its LVA teams. This represents a significant setback for the national tournament, which has been experiencing a decline since the pandemic began. The relegations of UVT and Obras, along with UPCN’s decision to distance itself from the competition system, have resulted in one of the league’s most crucial spots being compromised since its establishment in 1996.
According to ACLAV, the organization managing the Argentine Volleyball League, the upcoming season will feature 10 teams. These include Ciudad Vóley, Policial, River Plate, Monteros Vóley, Defensores de Banfield, San Lorenzo, Boca Juniors, Tucumán de Gimnasia, Waiwen, and CEF 5, the latter two promoted from lower divisions. This marks the first time in nearly 30 years that there will be no team from San Juan represented in the league.
The Liga Argentina was established in 1996 with the aim of creating a national and inclusive tournament. Obras was the province’s initial representative, participating continuously from 1996 until their relegation in the 2008/09 season. They returned to A1 in 2013/14 but were relegated again in the recent LVA. Obras achieved notable success, including being league runners-up and winning the ACLAV Cup and Super 4.
UPCN San Juan Vóley debuted in the 2007/08 season and quickly became the most successful club in Argentine volleyball history, securing a total of 24 titles (including a record 9 league titles), as well as two South American championships and unprecedented success at the Club World Championships.
The absence of “Los Cóndores” from the LVA will be challenging to overcome, not only due to their competitive edge but also because their participation, along with Bolívar’s, significantly raised the league’s overall standard.
Meanwhile, UVT participated in three consecutive seasons from 2020/21 to 2022/23, marking a historic period for San Juan volleyball with three provincial representatives in the Liga Argentina. “Comunitario” reached the semifinals in the 2020/21 LVA, missed playoffs in the subsequent cycle, and was subsequently relegated.
The next season of the Liga Argentina will revert to its Tour format (or “bubble” as it was referred to during the pandemic), with ACLAV announcing seven stages or venues where teams will compete over several days: Formosa, Tucumán, Monteros, Banfield, Buenos Aires (two venues), and Comodoro Rivadavia.
This competition format had been consistently opposed by UPCN and Once Unidos, who advocated for home and away matches, typical of standard championships. Consequently, both institutions decided to withdraw from ACLAV for the upcoming season.
ACLAV, even with restricted networks
ACLAV did not address the withdrawals of UPCN and Once Unidos, who opposed the competition system. According to statements from both clubs, this system damages the Liga Argentina, reduces its competitiveness, discourages attendance at matches, and increases costs.
In a press release, ACLAV attributed these departures to economic issues. “We understand the difficult decisions that the clubs have made in a challenging national economic context,” they stated. Concurrently, ACLAV made another notable decision: they restricted comments on their social media channels.
