Melilla Women edged Cajasol Women 2-1 in a tightly contested Club Friendly Women fixture on 12 September 2026, using a shortened best-of-three format that produced three competitive sets and a genuinely useful workout for both squads. The home side took the decider to close out the match, and the result gives Melilla Women early momentum in their pre-season programme.

The match was played at a brisk pace, with both coaches rotating heavily and using the fixture to evaluate combinations rather than chase the scoreboard. Even so, the quality was high and the final set carried a real edge, with neither side willing to give away the last word.

Match Overview

Melilla started the stronger of the two, controlling the first set through disciplined serving and a compact block. Their reception line held up well against Cajasol's jump serves, and the home setter was able to use the middle early and often, which opened up space on both pins.

Cajasol hit back in the second. Their serving grew more aggressive, and a series of long rallies went the visitors' way as their defence settled. Melilla's error count rose in the middle of the set, and Cajasol took full advantage to level the match.

The decider was the best volleyball of the night. Melilla rebuilt their passing platform, regained control at the net and pulled away late, sealing the win with a confident finish in transition. It was a short match by design, but it delivered plenty of information for both coaching staffs.

• Set 1: Melilla Women 25-22 Cajasol Women
• Set 2: Melilla Women 23-25 Cajasol Women
• Set 3: Melilla Women 25-19 Cajasol Women
• Final result: Melilla Women 2-1 Cajasol Women

Key Moments

The first set hinged on a mid-set serving run from Melilla that turned a two-point deficit into a three-point lead. Cajasol never fully recovered their rhythm after that, and Melilla closed the set with a block that summed up their defensive discipline.

In the second, Cajasol's best passage came at 15-15, when three consecutive transition points forced a Melilla timeout. The visitors kept their composure from the service line and held on through a nervous finish to take the set and level the match.

The third set was decided by a decisive five-point burst from the home side, built on two aces and a pair of blocks. From 14-14, Melilla pulled clear, and Cajasol's attempts to shorten the rallies only increased their error count as the set slipped away.

Tactical Story

Melilla's game plan was built around serve pressure and a heavy middle presence. When their passing held, they were able to involve the middles on almost every rotation, which stretched Cajasol's block and created one-on-one opportunities on the wings. The difference between the sets they won and the one they lost was almost entirely about first-contact quality.

Cajasol, for their part, were at their best when they served aggressively and forced Melilla into predictable high balls. Their floor defence was excellent in the second set, with several spectacular digs extending rallies that the home team had looked certain to win. The challenge for Cajasol is sustaining that level across three sets rather than one.

Both teams used the friendly to test different rotations, including a double-substitution pattern in the backcourt and a more adventurous blocking scheme with the wing blocker committing early. Those are the kinds of experiments that pre-season fixtures exist for.

Standout Players

Melilla's outside hitter was the most reliable point-scorer on the floor, delivering in the tight moments of the first and third sets. Their middle blocker also impressed, contributing key blocks and quick attacks that repeatedly caught Cajasol's defence flat-footed.

For Cajasol Women, the setter was a standout, varying tempo and location cleverly throughout the second set and keeping her hitters in rhythm. The libero produced the defensive highlight of the night, chasing down a deflected ball deep in the corner to keep a rally alive that Cajasol eventually won.

What It Means for the Season Ahead

For Melilla Women, the 2-1 win is a useful confidence boost and confirmation that their starting core is functioning well. The dropped second set, however, highlights the importance of maintaining passing standards when the opponent raises their serving aggression — a theme that will surely feature in training this week.

Cajasol Women leave with plenty of positives despite the defeat. Their defensive structure and setter play were strong, and the shortened format meant the match was always going to be decided by fine margins. Both clubs will continue their Club Friendly Women schedule as they build towards competitive fixtures, using thes