A superior show! Kuusamo celebrates the Finnish volleyball championship again | Sport

LP Kangasala tried to challenge the home team Kuusamo in the fourth final match, but the regular season winner did not let the visitor be surprised. Kuusamo’s Pallo-Karhut already won its third consecutive Finnish championship when it defeated LP Kangasala at home 3–0 (25–18, 31–29, 25–23).

Kuusamo opened the match so strongly that Kangasala’s coach Arttu Keränen had to call his troops together right at the beginning of the first period. Kangasala was nervous and made mistakes, while the home team’s players fell to the floor effectively. In the first set, Kuusamo’s attack percentage was 46, while Kangasala’s corresponding reading was only 28.

In the second set, Kangasala’s reception and defense improved, but this was not enough to win the set. Kuusamo was sharper in big balls and important points and at the end of the set Amiya Jones rose to a major role. The set stretched into extra balls, and Jones saved three times for his team in a tie ball situation. In the sixth ball of the set Madeline Palmer managed to hit the ball into the field.

In the third set as well, Kangasala was so effective at the start that Kuusamo’s coach was there Sotiris Gkotsis gave a rather strict speech to his players. Kangasala led the set at its best 22–17, but Kuusamo leveled again at 23–23 and over. Kuusamo’s passerby Sofia Lehto passed the championship ball to his team with an ace pass, and when Kangasala’s attack went long, Kuusamo got to celebrate.

Familiar names on the champion team were effective, as Madeline Palmer finished with 19/+12, Amiya Jones 13/+11 and those who got into the right shape in the playoffs after injuries Carlyle Nussbaum 12/+1. They were the most effective in the fabric industry Neea-Maria River (18/+9), Delay Pyhäjärvi (13/+7) and Heini Ahtola (9/+3).

Nusbaum and Palmer ended their careers at the Golden Jubilee

Carlyle Nusbaum was emotional after the match. The knee that bothered him during the season was not the reason for the tears, but the fact that he got to the golden party again after the difficulties. The championship was already the third for the American in Kuusamo’s shirt.

– I’m just so proud of my teammates. They were able to support me today and we supported each other. “I’m just very, very, very happy that we got this win,” Nusbaum said, his voice breaking.

Nusbaum and Madeline Palmer arrived in Kuusamo only at the end of December, when the team’s game had not gone as usual. However, Nusbaum was injured shortly after and was sidelined for a long time. In the playoffs, he first returned to the court in a libero shirt, but got up to speed in the semifinals against Puijo Volley.

Another reason for the tears was that both Nusbaum and Palmer said they would end their careers with this match.

– Next season I won’t play volleyball anymore. This was it for me, Nusbaum stated.

Injuries brought new responsibilities

Sofia Lehto, who played in the Hämeenlinna Volleyball Club last season and won silver, made it to the championship party this time. The national team passer was full of enthusiasm after the match.

– It feels super good! An incredibly wonderful feeling, wow!

In Lehto’s opinion, the match was of a high standard, and especially at the end of the second set, both performed great moves. However, the set and the match turned to the home team.

– I don’t even know which adjectives to describe it (the team). Absolutely amazing! Very flexible. We had a lot of injuries, but we managed to overcome them and from there new responsibility-bearers emerged. I can’t help but be proud of this team.

The home team’s routine on a hard level

Kuusamo has now won LP Kangasala eight times in a row. Arttu Keränen, who coached the last match at the helm of Kangasala, was satisfied with his team’s appearance in the last three matches, but the rest of the sets were difficult.

– Even today, at the end of the second and third period, we should have been a bit tougher. The home team’s routine came out at a pretty hard level in them, Keränen praised the opponent.

Keränen praised the opponent’s general player duo Palmer-Nusbaum, who scored big points in the finals. According to Keränen, it was known what to expect from these two, they just weren’t caught.

An important championship for the community

Sotiris Gkotsis has coached Kuusamo since the 2021–22 season and every year the team has won the championship. The championship was also the third for American player Nusbaum. However, the Greek coach is not tired of the championship celebrations.

– Once again, the feeling is absolutely incredible. I can’t describe it, he stated.

For Gkotsis, it is important that the team is able to offer success to its community. It is the most satisfying for him.

– For me, the most important thing is that once again we made new players into champions. And we once again made Kuusamo a place where championships are celebrated.

Update at 19:39: Added the comments of Sofia Lehto, Arttu Keränen and Sotiris Gkotsis.

Update at 21:44: Added interview with Carlyle Nusbaum.