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El Salvador secures podium by 3-1 win vs Nicaragua

 

BELIZE CITY, Belize, August 7, 2018 - El Salvador remains undefeated and assured of a place on the podium by their 3-1 victory over Nicaragua (25-22, 29-27, 23-25, 26-24) in the 11th game of the 20th  Central American women’s volleyball championships, in Belize City.

 

El Salvador had the advantage on spikes: 54-47 and in serving aces: 18-7, and they gained 23 points by their opponents’ errors, which they repaid in kind by 31 errors. Nicaragua had the advantage on blocks: 13-8.

 

Outside hitter Gabriela Funes top-scored for El Salvador with 21 points: 18 spikes, 2 blocks and an ace. Middle blocker Tatiana Menjivar scored 17 points: 11 spikes, 2 blocks and 4 aces. Outside hitter Kathya Vasquez scored 14 points: 8 spikes, serving 5 aces, and 1 block; and middle blocker Roxana Avalos scored 11 points: 6 spikes, 2 blocks and 3 aces.

 

Middle blocker Helen Trana led Nicaragua with 13 points: 12 ataques and a block, and outside hitter Maryuri Torres hammered 12 kills! Middle blockers Josafat Diaz and Dalia Conto scored 12 and 10 points respectively.

 

El Salvador’s coach Ingrid Rivas declared, “we achieved an objective. We have set ourselves targets, and bit by bit, we are meeting them. We knew it was going to be a hard game. We know that Nicaragua is really a team that’s always on the medal podium. We trained on that basis, trying to evaluate them and divine their weaknesses. We played to our strengths, and thank God, it worked out for us, we got the win.”

 

Salvador’s setter Laura Villalobos admitted: “it was a really tough game, tough on both teams. We played heart and soul, and left it all on the court! Thanks be to God, that we got the win! Cause Nicaragua is a tough team to beat!”

 

Veteran Claudia Noguera congratulated El Salvador: “They took the court with winning attitude, which I believe is important at any time and place. It was a tough game, the other team came out to play, and left it all on the court! I believe who won was destined to win, no matter what.”