Lynda Morales

Lynda Morales (born May 20, 1988) is a Puerto Rican indoor volleyball player who plays for Criollas de Caguas in the Liga de Voleibol Superior Femenino (LVSF). She was a member of the Puerto Rican national team from 2011 to 2016. She participated in the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2014 FIVB World Championship.

Lynda Morales
Personal information
NationalityPuerto Rican
Born (1988-05-20) May 20, 1988
Glendale, California
HometownFallbrook, California
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight77 kg (170 lb)
Spike303 cm (119 in)
Block298 cm (117 in)
College / UniversityCalifornia State
Volleyball information
PositionMiddle blocker
Current clubAlba Blaj
Number17
Career
YearsTeams
2014Mets de Guaynabo
2015RC Cola Raiders
2016Cignal HD Spikers
2016PSL-F2 Logistics Manila
2017Criollas de Caguas
2018Alba Blaj
National team
2011–2016Puerto Rico
Medal record
Women's volleyball
Representing  Puerto Rico
NORCECA Championship
Bronze medal – third place2013 OmahaTeam
Bronze medal – third place2015 MichoacanTeam
Pan-American Cup
Silver medal – second place2016 Santo DomingoTeam
Bronze medal – third place2014 Mexico CityTeam
Central American and Caribbean Games
Silver medal – second place2014 VeracruzTeam

Morales twice won the bronze medal in the NORCECA Championship, in 2013 and 2015 when she was awarded Best Middle Blocker. She won the Pan-American Cup silver medal in 2016 after the bronze taken in 2014. She also won the silver medal from the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games.

Personal life

Morales was born on May 20, 1988, in Glendale, California. She is 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) tall and 74 kg (163 lb). She went to Fallbrook High School in Fallbrook, California, but finished at Centennial High School in Bakersfield, California, and later enrolled in the California State University, Northridge majoring in Family and Consumer Sciences - Consumer Affairs.[1] Even when she was born in the United States, she has double citizenship having opted for Puerto Rican sports citizenship.[2]

Career

Playing as a center, Morales was awarded all-league Second Team in basketball and as volleyball player 2005 All-Southwest Yosemite League. She also practiced high jump while in high school.[1] With the Cal State Northridge Matadors, Morales was included in the 2008 Sacramento State All-Tournament Team.[1]

Morales was drafted for the Puerto Rican League by the club Llaneras de Toa Baja.[3] On 8 November 8, 2011, Morales was transferred to Gigantes de Carolina for two players, Tatiana Encarnación and Grace Saladobut and later was transferred again to Mets de Guaynabo on 30 November 2011 for the first pick of the 2013 draft and cash.[4] She played with Mets de Guaynabo from 2012 to 2013,[5][3] being selected for the All-Star game in 2013.[6]

At the 2013 NORCECA Championship, Morales helped Puerto Rico to win the bronze medal, the second meal ever in the continental championship, when her team defeated 3–0 to Canada.[7] She then signed with the Brazilian Superleague club Minas Tênis Clube for the 2013–14 season.[2][3]

2014

After the Brazilian league, she returned to the Puerto Rican league, playing for Mets de Guaynabo in 2014.[8] She was named among the World Championship qualifier team,[9] winning the berth for the World Championship after winning all three matches against Costa Rica, Saint Lucia and Barbados.[10] She won with her national team the bronze medal in the 2014 Pan-American Cup, the first medal ever in this continental competitions.[11] She was named to represent Puerto Rico during the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games,[12] and her national team reached the volleyball tournament final match, winning the silver medal when her team lost to the Dominican Republic 0–3.[9] She played the 2014 FIVB World Championship in Italy,[13] but her team could not make it to the second round ending up in with a 1–4 mark and a tied 17th rank.[14] After the World Championship, Morales traveled to Turkey and signed with the club Beşiktaş from Istanbul to play the Turkish league season 2014-2015.[15]

2015

Citing administration problems, Morales club in the Puerto Rican league withdraw its league participation for the 2015 season and all the player were drafted and she was picked in first round by Criollas de Caguas.[16] When the season was over for her Turkish team she returned to the Puerto Rican league with Criollas de Caguas, recalling her experience in Turkey for the lack of physical preparation as disappointing and a no postseason result.[17] Morales joined her national team in the 2015 Pan-American Cup, but her team lost their quarterfinal match 2–3 to Cuba[18] and the 5/6 placement match 1–3 to Canada to settle in the sixth place of the tournament.[19] Her national team then headed to Toronto, Canada to play the 2015 Pan American Games, were her team lost the bronze medal match to the Dominican Republic.[20]

With her national team she won the 2015 NORCECA Championship bronze medal after defeating 3–1 the Canadian national team,[21] and after finishing with 19 blocks,[22] she was awarded tournament's Best Middle Blocker.[23] She then played with the Filipino club RC Cola Air Force Raiders in the 2015 Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix Conference.[24] She later confessed that she was attracted to the Philippines because she was told by former league player how passionate the fans were.[25] She was also pointed out for the RC Cola Air Force Raiders coach Rhovyl Verayo as a key player in both, team offense and defense.[26] For her performance through all the 2015 year, Morales was awarded by the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee and the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation in the Olympic Awards as the Volleyball Player of the Year.[27][28]

2016

Morales returned to play with Criollas de Caguas for the 2016 season, but she suffered an injury in the right ankle and was replaced temporally by Laudevis Marrero.[29] But she returned[30][31] to help her club to win league championship.[32] Soon after that, Morales participated with her national team in the 2016 Summer Olympics second qualifier, winning for the first time the berth to the 2016 Summer Olympics.[33]

She won the silver medal in the 2016 Pan-American Cup held in Santo Domingo, when her national team lost 2–3 from the Dominican Republic.[34] Morales was selected to represent Puerto Rico during the 2016 Summer Olympics.[35] Her national team ended up in tied 11th place finishing with a 0–5 in their first ever Olympic participation.[36] Even though she was hoping to sign for a European club after the Olympics,[37] she signed with the Cignal HD Spikers to play the 2016 Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix Conference.[38] She later recalled how disappointed she was when she could not get an important contract after having such a good summer season.[39]

She was later announced to join the Philippines representatives for the 2016 FIVB Club World Championship, PSL-F2 Logistics Manila.[40][41] Morales retired herself from her national team after the 2016 Summer Olympics.[42]

2017

She joined the Puerto Rican season in the later stages,[43] nonetheless, she won the championship with Criollas de Caguas.[44] After the Puerto Rican season, she dedicated herself to play beach volleyball and teaching.[39] She then played with the Association of Volleyball Professionals 2017 sand tour, partnering Desirae Elizondo, Lillian Raney and Andrea Nucete.[45][46] She also joined the Temecula Valley Volleyball varsity team and the Viper club as coach.[47]

2018

For the second half of the 2017/18 Romanian League season, she signed with the club Alba Blaj, replacing the Brazilian Renata de Andrade Maggioni.[48][49]

Clubs

Awards

Individuals

Clubs

References
  1. "Lynda Morales". CBS Interactive. 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  2. "Minas confirma contratação de miss americana e anuncia jogadora de Porto Rico". Ahe!. 9 September 2013. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  3. Ayala Gordián, José (16 August 2013). "Lynda Morales demostrará su valor en la Súperliga de Brasil". Primera Hora (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  4. "FPV: Cambio en partido LVSM; Mets con Lynda Morales". Noticel (in Spanish). 30 November 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  5. "En pie de guerra las Mets de Guaynabo". Primera Hora (in Spanish). 19 January 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  6. "Lleno de Estrellas el firmamento del Voleibol Superior Femenino". Noticel (in Spanish). 21 February 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  7. "Puerto Rico Downs Canada to Win NORCECA Bronze". Omaha, Nebraska: NORCECA. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  8. "Lynda Morales se uniria el 6 de abril". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). 21 March 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  9. "Plata para la selección femenina de voleibol". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). 21 November 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  10. "Puerto Rico clasifica al Mundial de voleibol femenino". Primera Hora (in Spanish). 25 May 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  11. "Anuncian las 12 para el Pre-Mundial". El Vocero (in Spanish). 4 May 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  12. "Voleibol: Listas las selecciones para Veracruz". Noticel (in Spanish). 14 November 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  13. "Puerto Rico escoge sus 12 jugadoras para el Mundial de Voleibol". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). 16 September 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  14. Ayala Gordián, José (16 September 2014). "Bélgica eliminó a las boricuas del Mundial de la FIVB". Primera Hora (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  15. "Lynda Morales firma en Turquía". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). 21 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  16. "Las Mets de Guaynabo se retiran de la LVSF y sortean a sus jugadoras". Metro Puerto Rico (in Spanish). 13 December 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  17. Ribas Reyes, Fernando (22 April 2015). "Defraudada Lynda Morales con el Besiktas". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). Caguas. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  18. "Cuba se desquita de Puerto Rico en Copa Panamericana de voli femenino". Radio Habana Cuba (in Spanish). PL. 13 December 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  19. "Canada beats Puerto Rico for fifth place". Callao, Peru: NORCECA. 21 June 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  20. "Dominican Republic gets women's bronze medal". Toronto, Canada: NORCECA. 25 July 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  21. "Puerto Rico wins NORCECA Bronze over Canada". Morelia, Mexico: NORCECA. 2 November 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  22. "Lynda Morales al Todo Estrella del Norceca". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). 4 October 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  23. "USA win third consecutive NORCECA title". Morelia, Mexico: FIVB. 2 November 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  24. "Abusa Lynda Morales en Filipinas". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). 15 October 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  25. Escarlote, Mark (27 October 2015). "PSL Slam book: Lynda Morales". ABS-CBN. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  26. "Puerto Rico's Lynda Morales heads new batch of imports in Super Liga Grand Prix". Spin. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  27. "Premiarán el talento nacional". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). 15 December 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  28. Rosario Rosa, Heriberto (2 December 2015). "LYNDA MORALES A LA PREMIACIÓN OLÍMPICA" (in Spanish). Criollas de Caguas. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  29. "Criollas: Out Linda, In Laudevis". Que Palo (in Spanish). 9 March 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  30. "Jessica Jones de vuelta a las Criollas". El Vocero (in Spanish). 16 March 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  31. Ribas Reyes, Fernando (4 May 2016). "Contundente 3-0 de las Criollas". Primera Hora (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  32. "Criollas conquistan su tercer campeonato consecutivo". El Vocero (in Spanish). 7 May 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  33. "Puerto Rico women's volleyball team will make Olympic debut in Rio". NBC Olympics. 22 May 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  34. "Dominicans crowned at home with fourth gold medal". Santo Domingo: NORCECA. 10 July 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  35. Bartolomei Torres, José E. (14 July 2016). "Definidas las 12 para Río en voleibol femenino". El Vocero (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  36. "Italy Taste Victory Flavour at Last Chance". Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: FIVB. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  37. Ascano, Jerome (14 August 2016). "Former RC Cola import Lynda Morales savors Olympic debut with Puerto Rico". Spin. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  38. "Olympian Lynda Morales joins Cignal for Super Liga Grand Prix". Spin. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  39. Ayala Gordian, Jose (12 May 2017). "Lynda Morales se dedicará de lleno a la enseñanza". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  40. "Lynda Morales jugará en el Mundial de Clubes". El Vocero (in Spanish). 27 September 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  41. "Preparations in full swing at PSL Manila". Manila, Philippines: FIVB. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  42. Ayala Gordian, Jose (13 April 2017). "Llegó el cambio generacional en el voleibol femenino". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  43. Ayala Gordian, Jose (6 May 2017). "Engranadas y a otra serie final las Criollas de Caguas". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  44. Ayala Gordian, Jose (15 May 2017). "Las Criollas arrasan con el campeonato". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  45. "Lynda Morales". AVP. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  46. "Lynda Morales". BVB Info. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  47. "Olympian Lynda Morales". Viper Club. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  48. Ayala Gordian, Jose (2 January 2018). "Karina Ocasio y Lynda Morales se suman a los Boricuas por el Mundo". FPV (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  49. "CSM Volei Alba Blaj a transferat-o pe Lynda Morales, o jucătoare din Porto Rico". Libertatea (in Romanian). 4 January 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
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