Nicaragua overcomes Guatemala in five sets

 

CIUDAD QUESADA, Costa Rica, November 19, 2019 - Nicaragua edged Guatemala 3-2 (20-25, 15-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-10) to Guatemala, after losing the first two sets, to get their first victory of the XIII U18 Central American Women's Volleyball Championship.

 

For Nicaragua Norma Brenes and Roselyn Tobie carried the force of the attack, while at times the spreading by setter Franchesca Medrano also contributed offensively and made a difference in the key points. Meanwhile, Guatemala divided the attack between Diana Barillas, Ingrid Almaraz, Naomi Monney and Andrea Mendizabal, but the Nicaraguan defense was better at the close of the game and counter attacked with touches over the block.

 

Claudia Noguera, coach of Nicaragua: “In the first two sets we didn't see the team we have been preparing; I told them that I didn't know them, that they started playing with a lot of attitude on the court and they started doing it and we saw the change, everything went well.

 

They began to play with encouragement and support each other, Guatemala also had a good defense in the first set and that took us out of concentration. I am satisfied with the result, I knew it would be difficult, but I knew that they have the conditions to win this and other games, because we want to improve in the ranking since we were fourth in the previous tournament.”

 

David Aldana, coach of Guatemala: “We did not know how to close the game, they are beginner players and the experience is only won with these tournaments, what it teaches us is that every time one set is being fought you have to close it and not allow the other team grow. Nicaragua has always been like that, a fighter, they knew how to work, they managed their pressure better and they managed to win the game.”