PEREZ ZELEDON, Costa Rica, January 10, 2006.- Honduras and Guatemala were crowned as new champions for the U-18 and U-19 divisions respectively during the Youth Central American Tournaments held last November.

The event was well organized as also was the level of quality of the participating teams, with all of them showing a big improvement in their overall technical performance and individual skills. Honduras took the girls’ gold medal in the U-18 class with Costa Rica as the runner-ups and Guatemala taking the bronze medal. El Salvador finished fourth.

 Both Honduras and Costa Rica reached the final match with unbeaten records and the Hondurans provided the big surprise defeating the favourites Costa Ricans by 3-1 (25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 25-6). Honduran Beverli Alvarez was the Most Valuable Player and also the Best Setter and she was joined in the all-star by team mates Gabriela Ramirez and Maria Rodriguez as Best Blocker and Best Defender respectively.

Dulce Gonzalez of Guatemala was the Best Server and countrywoman Karla Contreras the Best Attacker, Costa Rican Cinthya Pacheco was the choice as Best Receiver and Marta Mena of El Salvador, the Best Libero.

Five teams entered in the boys’ competition with Guatemala coming out at the top of the U-19 division. Honduras and Costa Rica finished second and third, with Nicaragua and El Salvador completing the final standings.

Guatemala ensured the title with a strong straight sets victory over Costa Rica by 25-16, 25-17, 25-19.

Guatemalan Jorge Gonzalez was the MVP and Best Attacker of the competition and the other All-Star players were the following:

Carlos Vizquez (ESA), Best Server; Hector Cifuentes (GUA), Best Receiver; Luis Membreno (HON), Best Setter; Wilfredo Lopez (HON), Best Blocker; Alejandro Castillo (CRC), Best Defender and Henry Alvarez (NCA), Best Libero.