Nicaragua defeats Belize in four sets

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, August 7, 2014.- Nicaragua defeated Belize in four sets (25-23, 16-25, 25-18, 25-13) at opening day of the Women’s U-3 AFECAVOL Central American Championship in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

It was a very tight score up to the third set when Belize lost their setter due to dehydration and Nicaragua managed to dominate in a comfortable matter. Both squads performed strongly with people in the stand cheering for both sides.

Nicaragua held a 38-32 advantage in kills and in serves 8-5, while Belize was superior in the blocking category by 14-10.

Outside hitter Katy Gonzalez led Honduras’ scorers with 13 points, with 10 kills and 2 aces included, followed by middle blocker Josafat Diaz with 11 points, with 3 blocks and 4 aces included. Outside hitter Tichel Solis of Belize scored a match-high with 20 points, joined by outside hitter Maurissa Williams with 14 points.

Nicaragua’s captain Katy Gonzlez said “it wasn’t an easy match; every team here wants to win. I feel really bad with the injury suffered by their passer, this could happen to any of us and I hope she recovers soon; our victory was less complicated after that”.

Belizian captain Tichele Solis expressed “we tried to overcome the obstacle of losing our main setter but we couldn’t, we’re not just a team, we are a family and it was hard to recover from that. I believe we could have won, but Nicaragua took advantage mainly from our own mistakes. We hope to come back stronger and I want to thank the people in the stands who were cheering for us”.

“We are beginning in a god way, but we must move one step at a time. Our goal is to win a medal and I believe that as the tournament develops, the team will perform more consistently” said coach Claudia Noguera of Nicaragua.

“Belize started off very strong, I believe we performed much better in the first two sets and we could have won the match, we were leading on several occasions but the more we play the more settled the team will be. My setter had a very strong cramp and as tomorrow we have a rest day I believe she will be fully recovered for our next match” said coach Jose Reyes.