Tag: Afecavol

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, September 28, 2025. – Nicaraguan setter Lolette Rodríguez was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Second Edition of the AFECAVOL Women’s Final Four Championship, held at the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Gymnasium, where her team claimed the regional title.

Rodríguez became the driving force for Nicaragua, leading with her offensive strength and experience in the most high-pressure moments. Her performance was key for the Nicaraguans to secure the championship ahead of Costa Rica and Honduras.

In addition to the MVP award, awards were presented to the tournament’s standout players.

Costa Rica took home key awards, including Best Server for María Alfaro, Best Receiver for María José Castro, Best Setter for Yuliana González, Best Opposite for Ana Victoria Rojas, Best Spiker for Tania Carazo and Lakisha Thompson as Second Best Blocker.

Honduras shined with Sasha Kawas as Second Best Spiker, Ana Marcellin as Best Blocker and Top Scorer, and Andrea Zúñiga as Best Libero. Nicaragua also celebrated Juny Aguilera, who was honored as Best Digger.

The final podium crowned Nicaragua as the new back-to-back Central American champion, reaffirming their regional dominance, with Costa Rica finishing as runner-up and Honduras taking third place.

ÁLBUM PREMIACIÓN

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, September 28, 2025. – Nicaragua claimed the title of the Second Edition of the AFECAVOL Women’s Final Four Championship, held at the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Gymnasium, after winning its final match and waiting for the outcome of the last game of the day.

In the first match of the final day, Nicaragua swept El Salvador 3-0 (25-13, 25-20, 25-15). The Nicaraguans dominated with strong performances from Gilmary Smith (14 points) and Ericka Calero (13), along with the leadership of their setter, Lolette Rodríguez. El Salvador fought hard in the second set with contributions from Gabriela Funes (10 points) and Pamela Andrade, but their 19 unforced errors tipped the balance in Nicaragua’s favor.

Later, in a thrilling conclusion, Honduras defeated Costa Rica 3-2 (18-25, 26-24, 20-25, 28-26, 15-10), a result that ultimately handed the title to Nicaragua based on a superior set ratio. Costa Rica had controlled much of the match with the efforts of Tannia Carazo, Tatiana Sayles, and Victoria Rojas, but the Hondurans mounted a comeback led by Ana Gabriela Marcellin, the match’s top scorer with 31 points, and Sasha Kawas, who added 23.

The final podium was completed with Nicaragua as Champion, Costa Rica as Runner-up, and Honduras in third place, while El Salvador went winless.

The tournament’s standout performer was Lolette Rodríguez, who was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for her decisive contribution to Nicaragua’s championship.

Individual Awards

•             Most Valuable Player MVP: Lolette Rodríguez (NCA)

                •             Best Server: María Alfaro (CRC)

                •             Best Receiver: María José Castro (CRC)

                •             Best Setter: Yuliana González (CRC)

                •             First Spiker: Tania Carazo (CRC)

                •             Second Spiker: Sasha Kawas (HON)

                •             First Middle Blocker: Ana Marcellin (HON)

                •             Second Middle Blocker: Lakisha Thompson (CRC)

                •             Best Opposite: Ana Victoria Rojas (CRC)

                •             Best Digger: Juny Aguilera (NCA)

                •             Best Libero: Andrea Zúñiga (HON)

                •             Best Scorer: Ana Marcellin (HON)

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, September 28, 2025.– Honduras defeated Costa Rica 3-2 (18-25, 26-24, 20-25, 28-26, 15-10) in a dramatic finish to the AFECAVOL Women’s Final Four Central American Championship, held at the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Gymnasium. The result allowed Nicaragua to be crowned back-to-back champions of the tournament.

Costa Rica started strong and took the first set 25-18 with contributions from Tannia Carazo and Tatiana Sayles, but Honduras responded in the second set, closing 26-24 to tie the match thanks to the power of Ana Gabriela Marcelin and Sasha Pamela Kawas. In the third set, the Costa Ricans regained control with a 25-20 win led by Krystel Vargas and Victoria Rojas, but the Hondurans refused to give up and forced the tiebreak with a dramatic 28-26 fourth set.

In the fifth set, Marcelin was once again decisive and, along with Kawas, guided Honduras to a 15-10 victory that left Costa Rica without championship hopes.

ÁLBUM HON vs CRC

Marcelin was the  top scorer of the match with 31 points, followed by Kawas with 23 and Rocío Duron with 13. For Costa Rica, Sayles and Rojas scored 23 points each, while Carazo added 22.

The statistics reflected how close the match was: Honduras led in attack points 75 to 73 and in service aces 7 to 5. Costa Rica was superior in blocking, 12 to 9, and committed fewer unforced errors, 15 to 20.

The result placed Costa Rica second with two wins and one loss, while Nicaragua, with a better set ratio, was crowned 2025 Final Four champion, confirming its regional dominance. Honduras finished third.

Marvin Ulloa, Honduras’ head coach: “It’s been many years since we beat Costa Rica at the senior level. The team has been growing; unfortunately, we had a bad start, but starting yesterday, we began to really play, and the players gave everything. They are happy. It was a beautiful spectacle; for those who love volleyball, having a packed gym with the crowd cheering for the home team is wonderful. This win is for my old man.”

Braulio Godínez, Costa Rica’s head coach: “Today was a match that maybe we thought Honduras wouldn’t be so strong in, but they went from less to more, and today they played very well. Honduras outperformed us in every aspect; they were more focused. Maybe after beating Nicaragua yesterday, the girls thought today might be a bit easier. We struggled to get into our rhythm; we played at their pace, and it took a lot to get back to our level. We could have won the fourth set—we had several set points—but we lacked the calm needed to close it. This tournament shows that the Central American Games will be very competitive, where small details will make the difference.”

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, September 28, 2025.- Nicaragua convincingly defeated El Salvador 3-0 (25-13, 25-20, 25-15) at the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Gymnasium, at the Central American Women’s Final Four Championship.

In the first set, the Nicaraguans set the pace with strong serving and Gilmary Smith’s attacks, closing with a comfortable 25-13 win.

In the second set, El Salvador showed its best version with contributions from Gabriela Funes and Pamela Andrade, but setter Lolette Rodríguez’s pressure and Ericka Calero’s offensive finish made the difference, taking the set 25-20 and moving ahead 2-0.

The third set confirmed Nicaragua’s dominance. El Salvador’s 19 unforced errors made it easier to close the set 25-15 and complete the sweep.

ÁLBUM NCA vs ESA

The statistics reflected Nicaragua’s superiority, as they recorded 42 attack points, 4 blocks, and 8 aces, while committing 13 unforced errors.

Smith was the top scorer with 14 points, followed by Calero with 13 and Rodríguez with 7 points. For El Salvador, Funes scored 10 points, while Andrade and Ramírez added 6 each.

With this result, Nicaragua finished the tournament with two wins and one loss, while El Salvador ended winless. Nicaragua awaits the result between Costa Rica and Honduras to know their final standing.

Lolette Rodríguez, Nicaragua’s setter: “We have felt very good in this tournament. We knew it was going to be a very tough event, all the teams are preparing well, and we see this as preparation for the upcoming Central American Games. We’ll go back home, make adjustments, and try to be as well-prepared as possible.”

Marisol Sánchez, El Salvador’s setter: “We are very happy to have been able to participate in this Final Four. We have a very young team, with many girls still part of the U19 category, and the goal is to achieve better results for future national teams.”

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, September 27, 2025.– In an exciting five-set battle, Costa Rica defeated defending champions Nicaragua (25-17, 20-25, 20-25, 25-19, 15-5) and is now one step away from claiming the AFECAVOL Women’s Final Four Championship being held at the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Gymnasium.

The duel was a true clash of power. The Costa Ricans took a tight first set (25-23), but Nicaragua came back strong in the second and third, with identical scores (25-20), to take the lead. Costa Rica never gave up and, with the support of their home crowd, evened the match with a solid 25-19 in the fourth set. The fifth set showed the hosts at their best: focus, organized defense, and effective attacking to seal the victory with a convincing 15-5.

ÁLBUM CRC vs NCA

Individually, Tania Carazo shined as Costa Rica’s top scorer with 17 points, supported by Tatiana Sayles with 16 and Victoria Rojas with 15. The team totaled 52 attack points and 9 blocks.

For Nicaragua, captain Ericka Calero led the offense with 15 points, followed by Josafat Díaz with 15 and María Belén Arcia with 14. The Nicaraguans tallied 7 blocks and 55 attack points but committed 35 unforced errors compared to Costa Rica’s 28.

With this win, Costa Rica remains unbeaten and sits atop the standings. Nicaragua, who also won their first match, now faces a challenge in defending their title.

The decisive day will be played tomorrow, with Costa Rica looking to clinch the title in front of their home fans against Honduras at 6:30 p.m., while Nicaragua will face El Salvador at 4:00 p.m.

Tatiana Sayles, Costa Rica’s Captain: “We just finished a very close match against Nicaragua; they are a very strong team. We knew this was going to be a very tough match, but we managed to get the win today. We know this Final Four is very important for us ahead of the Central American Games. We know they are not the same, but this helps us as preparation. Today the team focused on the game plan, and we are very happy about the victory. Now we must focus on tomorrow’s match against Honduras.”

Dalia Calero, Nicaragua’s Outside Hitter: “We knew it was a very tough match, and we clearly wanted to win it and keep the title. The tournament is not over yet, and I think we can give more of ourselves.”

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, September 27, 2025. – Honduras earned their first victory in the AFECAVOL Women’s Central American Final Four Championship by defeating El Salvador 3-1 (25-19, 25-23, 20-25, 26-24) in a thrilling duel at the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Gymnasium.

The start was favorable for the Catrachas, who, with an organized game, took control of the first set 25-19. In the second set, El Salvador tightened up and forced a close finish, but Honduras prevailed again 25-23.

El Salvador responded in the third set, extending the match with a 25-20 win. The final set was a nail-biter, with Honduras resisting the pressure and closing it 26-24 to secure the victory.

The statistics reflected Honduras’ superiority in attack with 57 points to 45 and in blocking with 10 to 5. El Salvador compensated with power from the service line, recording 10 aces compared to Honduras’ 3.

ÁLBUM HON vs ESA

The standout player of the match was Gabriela Marcelin, unstoppable with 25 points (20 on attacks and 5 on blocks). She was supported by Sasha Pamela Kawas with 17 points and Rocío Durón with 8. For El Salvador, Blanca Colato stood out with 14 points, followed by Adriana Flores with 11.

With this victory, Honduras earns their first points in the standings and puts themselves back in contention to improve their position.

Tomorrow, they will finish their participation by facing Costa Rica at 6:30 p.m., while El Salvador will play against Nicaragua at 4:00 p.m.

The final day will be decisive, as Honduras seeks to overtake El Salvador in the standings and the matches will determine the Central American champion.

Tessa Flores, Captain of Honduras: “It was quite a tough match because we know El Salvador digs up everything. We stepped up our game in blocking and serving, we stayed focused, and we pulled it off. The last set was very close, but we trusted our attackers and our blocking, and that’s how we were able to take the match.”

Adriana Flores, Captain of El Salvador: “This match was very close, and the victory was going to go to the team that made fewer mistakes. In our case, we struggled to close in the moments when we needed to be decisive. That happened even though we managed our defense better, but unfortunately, the overall set of things we needed to do well at the end didn’t come together, but we fought hard.”

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, September 26, 2025.- Costa Rica got off to a strong start in the AFECAVOL Women’s Central American Final Four Championship, defeating El Salvador 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-20) at the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Gymnasium.

The home team controlled the first set with a comfortable margin (25-15). In the second, Costa Rica’s offense kept setting the pace to extend the lead with a clear 25-13. In the third, El Salvador improved and forced a tighter finish, but Costa Rica stayed composed to close the win 25-20.

The stats reflected Costa Rica’s dominance, with 44 points on attacks compared to El Salvador’s 27, along with a 7-2 advantage in blocks and 6-0 in aces. El Salvador only capitalized on 18 points from Costa Rica’s errors, not enough to offset the home team’s offense.

ÁLBUM CRC vs ESA

Individually, middle blocker Mariela Rojas led with 14 points, 11 from attacks and 3 from blocks. Also standing out were outside hitter Tania Carazo with 12 points, opposite Lakisha Thompson with 12, and outside hitter Tatiana Sayles with 11. For El Salvador, middle blocker Evelyn Ramírez led with 12 points, followed by outside hitter Gabriela Funes with 7.

On the second day, Saturday 27, Costa Rica will face Nicaragua at 6:30 p.m., while El Salvador will look to bounce back against Honduras at 4:00 p.m.

Braulio Godínez, Costa Rica’s coach: “The first match is to break the ice. We managed the first and second sets more solidly. The middle part of the match was more challenging. Some changes were made in the third set to give some players minutes, and that complicated things a bit; it was more even. El Salvador played a bit more freely, but I think we always kept control of the match, and this helps us for tomorrow’s game.”

Dennisse Rogel, El Salvador’s assistant coach: “In this match against Costa Rica, we had the lead in the last set, but we missed a couple of plays to close it out. We are developing as the tournament progresses, and we are watching how our players perform.”

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, September 26, 2025.- Nicaragua started their campaign at the AFECAVOL Women’s Final Four Central American Championship with a convincing 3-0 victory over Honduras (25-18, 25-18, 25-10) at the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Sports Complex in San José, Costa Rica.

Nicaragua took control midway through the first set and closed strong to claim it 25-18. In the second, they raced to a 5-1 lead and never looked back, holding off Honduras late in the set to secure another 25-18 win.

The defending champions dominated the third set, powering to a 25-10 finish that sealed the straight-sets victory. Despite Honduras’ strong defensive efforts that forced several long rallies, Nicaragua maintained their offensive rhythm to stay in control.

ÁLBUM NCA vs HON

Statistically, Nicaragua held the edge in attacks (42-30) and serves (5-2), while the teams tied in blocks (4-4). Additionally, Honduras committed 24 errors, which were well capitalized on by Nicaragua, who committed only 10.

Outside hitter Dayana Arcia led Nicaragua with 12 points, all from attacks. She was followed by Dania Calero with 11 points (eight kills, one block, two aces) and Josafat Diaz, who also reached double figures with 10 points.

For Honduras, opposite Rocío Durón and middle blocker Ana Gabriela Marcelin were the top scorers with 10 points each.

On Saturday, September 27, Honduras will face El Salvador at 4:00 p.m., while Nicaragua will take on hosts Costa Rica at 6:30 p.m.

Nicaragua’s head coach René Quintana said: “The team really managed to dominate the game. We were able to take away Honduras’ initiative, and that gave us the victory.”

Honduras coach Marvin Ulloa commented: “It was a difficult match; we did not expect it to go this way. What we worked on did not come through, and our game plan didn’t work—maybe because the foreign players joined us at the last minute. But the tournament continues, and we hope to do better tomorrow.”

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, September 25, 2025.- The four participating countries of the II AFECAVOL Women’s Final Four are already ready and this Thursday successfully went through the preliminary interview.

Costa Rica was the first national team to go through the preliminary inquiry, followed by Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador.

For this September 25, the teams also had scheduled the court recognition at the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Gymnasium, where starting this Friday the 26th until next Sunday the 28th they will compete for the title.

Teams also had their first official training session at the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Gymnasium, where they will compete for the title starting this Friday 26th and until next Sunday 28th.

Nicaragua arrives determined to defend the crown in an all-against-all format with two matches per day.

Álbum de fotos de la Entrevista preliminar

Just like in the men’s tournament, the Women’s Final Four will award points for the FIVB world ranking, which raises even more the importance of each match.

The coaches commented

José Miguel Briceño, assistant coach Costa Rica: “We are happy to play at home, we want to make a good presentation so that the fans leave happy and hopefully fight for first place.”

Marvin Ulloa, coach Honduras: “We bring a team between young and some players with experience, and we hope to remain on the medal podium, as in the previous events.”

René Quintana, coach Nicaragua: “We know that the championship is very tough but the expectation is to achieve the title again.”

Denisse Rogel, assistant coach El Salvador: “Our expectations for this tournament are a worthy representation of our country, to have the best of success and performance, and to achieve first place like the rest of the teams. For this competition we bring a team with experienced players and also with new players that we hope to develop throughout the tournament.”

CHIRIQUÍ, Panama, September 20, 2025.– José Pablo Pérez of Guatemala was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the VII AFECAVOL U23 Men’s Central American Championship after leading his team to the title.

Pérez guided Guatemala to their sixth championship in this category, finishing as the top scorer with 22 points in the final against Nicaragua.

José Pablo became a nightmare for the opposing block with 20 attack points, supported by Jerry Durán, who was named Second Best Spiker, while Adolfo Rivas took home the award for Best Setter of the tournament.

Costa Rica, who claimed third place, earned four individual awards: Stanley Grant as First Best Spiker and Top Scorer, Jeremy Vanega as First Best Blocker, and Yulius Brown as Best Server.

Osmar Peralta of Nicaragua was recognized as Best Receiver, Best Digger, and Best Libero, while Kaelen Ingram of Belize was named Best Opposite and Lucas Espíndola of El Salvador received the Second Best Blocker award.

ÁLBUM PREMIACIÓN

Individual Awards

Most Valuable Player José Pablo Pérez         GUA

1st Best Spiker             Stanley Grant             CRC

2nd Best Spiker           Jerry Durán                 GUA

Best Receiver             Osmar Peralta            NCA

Best Digger                  Osmar Peralta            NCA

Best  Libero                 Osmar Peralta            NCA

Best Scorer                  Stanley Grant              CRC

Best Service               Yulius Brown               CRC

Best Setter                   Adolfo Rivas                GUA

Best Opposite             Kaelen Ingram            BIZ

1st Best Blocker          Jeremy Vanega           CRC

2nd Best Blocker         Lucas Espíndola          ESA

CHIRIQUÍ, Panama, September 20, 2025.– After an uncertain start, Guatemala rose to the occasion to defeat Nicaragua 3-1 (29-31, 25-17, 25-18, 25-15) in the battle for the title of the VII AFECAVOL U23 Men’s Central American Championship.

For the Guatemalan team, it was their sixth triumph in seven editions, making them the most successful nation in this category, while Nicaragua earned their second silver medal.

Nicaragua struck first by taking a hard-fought opening set 31-29, but far from letting their guard down, Guatemala stepped up in the next three sets to seal the victory and the championship.

ÁLBUM GUA VS NICARAGUA

Guatemala was superior in blocking points 12-7, attacks 67-50, service points 3-2, and conceded 23 points on unforced errors compared to Nicaragua’s 22.

José Pérez shone on offense, scoring 22 points to lead Guatemala’s attack, with Jerry Durán adding 17 and Jeferson Zavala contributing 15. For Nicaragua, Yader León and Jesy Umaña finished the match with 16 points each.

At the end of the match, Guatemala’s coach Lucas Raider said: “For us, it was a tournament with many ups and downs; we improved along the way, we were able to win the matches that mattered, and we got the result we wanted.”

Regarding the runner-up finish, Nicaragua’s coach Jorge Mena commented: “We did the work to reach this second place, which surely no one expected us to achieve, especially considering the countries that were present at this event. The team was very worn out after the semifinal against Panama, and that affected us a lot.”

CHIRIQUÍ, Panama, September 20, 2025 – The Costa Rica National Team climbed to third place at the VII AFECAVOL U23 Men’s Central American Championship after defeating Panama 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 29-27).

Panama was slow to get going and tried to extend the match, especially in the third set, but Costa Rica shut the door thanks to its powerful attack.

For Costa Rica, five players scored in double digits, with the top three being Stanley Grant with 24, Ignacio Sánchez with 17, and Yulius Brown with 13.

For Panama, Víctor Araúz finished with 15 points and Víctor Pérez added 11.

ÁLBUM CRC VS PAN

Costa Rica was highly effective on attack, scoring 58 points compared to Panama’s 33. Panama narrowly led in blocking (7-4) and service points (5-4), but they committed 19 unforced errors compared to Costa Rica’s 13.

After the match, Costa Rica’s coach César Salas said: “Thank God we reached the podium, even though our goal was to make it to the final. We didn’t achieve that, but we are not sad, overall, the team had a great tournament. This is a very young group that will undoubtedly continue to grow.”

Panama’s coach Horacio Angulo added: “We have to be honest; the team didn’t have the necessary preparation. Still, people were able to see what these guys are capable of. To compete for medals with this new format, proper preparation is needed. You can have a team with very talented players, but that means nothing without preparation.”

CHIRIQUÍ, Panama, September 20, 2025. – Belize did what was necessary to overcome El Salvador 3-1 (25-18, 14-25, 25-20, 25-23) in the battle that awarded the winner fifth place at the VII AFECAVOL U23 Men’s Central American Championship.

Belize closed the competition with an overall record of 3-1 in wins and losses after competing in the demanding Pool A and the classification matches. Meanwhile, El Salvador finished in sixth place with a 1-3 overall record.

ÁLBUM FOTOS BIZ VS ESA

Eliazar Mejía spearheaded Belize’s attack with 19 points, supported by Kaelen Ingram with 18 and Daniel Musa with 11 points.

For El Salvador, Abner Cano led the offense with 23 points, while teammate Andrés Reyes added 12 points.

El Salvador had its best moment in the second set but was unable to maintain the pace against a Belizean side that held the advantage in attack points 48-44 and blocks 7-5, though El Salvador was more effective from the service line with a 7-5 edge in service points.

Both teams were nearly even in points from unforced errors, with Belize giving up 30 and El Salvador 29.

After the match, Belize’s coach Albert Humes stated: “Overall, I’d give the team a B grade. I think we could have had a better tournament, but we slipped in our first match against Panama. Maybe in a round-robin format we could have achieved a better position since we only lost once in the tournament and still finished fifth.”

Meanwhile, El Salvador’s coach Andrea Genova said: “We knew we were going to have a very tough tournament. Despite everything, we fought hard in every match. This experience is very valuable for our young players who are preparing for next year’s U19 tournament.”

CHIRIQUÍ, Panama, September 19, 2025. – In a dramatic, nail-biting finish, Nicaragua claimed the second ticket to the final of the VII AFECAVOL Men’s U23 Central American Championship, prevailing over Panama in a thrilling five-set battle 3-2 (25-19, 19-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-12).

Nicaragua will aim for its second title in the category and will face Guatemala in a fourth consecutive final, after previously clashing in the 2018, 2022, and 2023 editions. In those duels, Nicaragua knocked Guatemala out in the 2022 edition.

ÁLBUM NCA VS PAN

Against Panama, Nicaragua kept its composure and played with patience in the most critical moments, facing a Panamanian squad that never backed down and had strong support from the fans present at La Basita Gymnasium in Chiriquí.

The difference in points between both teams was slight. Panama led in attacks 70-68, but Nicaragua stepped up its blocking, scoring 11 points to Panama’s 7, while both teams scored one point from service.

Panama was hurt by 27 unforced errors, compared to 24 from Nicaragua.

On offense for Nicaragua, Yader León led with 23 points, followed closely by Jesy Umaña, also with 23. For Panama, Víctor Pérez and Víctor Arauz each scored 22 points.

After the match, Nicaragua’s top scorer Yader León said: “It was a very tough match. The guys started blocking at the most important moments, and that was key to getting the win. We took the first set, then fell behind because of our own mistakes, but we knew how to fix those situations. Honestly, the key to victory was our blocking in the last set.”

Meanwhile, Panama’s captain and top scorer Víctor Pérez said: “It was a very hard-fought match. Nicaragua is not an easy team, and against us, everything went their way. All we can do now is keep fighting, we want to take third place here at home to our country.”

CHIRIQUÍ, Panama, September 19, 2025.– Guatemala’s National Team secured its place in the final of the VII AFECAVOL U23 Men’s Central American Championship after prevailing over Costa Rica in a fierce battle, winning 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 25-18, 25-20).

For Guatemala, the defending champion, this will be their sixth final in the category, during which they have already collected five titles, the most recent in the 2023 edition.

Despite the score, it was not an easy match for Guatemala, who stayed calmer in the moments of pressure and pushed harder in their quest for the final ticket.

Costa Rica conceded 33 points from unforced errors compared to Guatemala’s 16, a factor that ultimately made the difference in the match result.

ÁLBUM DE FOTOS GUA VS CRC

Both teams were evenly matched, with Costa Rica slightly ahead in attack points (59-58) and service aces (5-0), while tied in blocking points (6-6).

Guatemala found its main attacking figures in José Pérez and Yeferson Zavala, who each scored 15 points, while Jerry Durán contributed 14.

For Costa Rica, Staley Grant was the top scorer with 33 points, followed by Ignacio Morales with 18 and Yulius Brown with 10.

After the match, Guatemala’s top scorer José Pérez said: “In our previous match against Belize, we got a little overconfident, but against Costa Rica that didn’t happen. This time, we entrusted ourselves to God and He gave us the victory because we were able to work as a team and play with grit. Costa Rica is a very strong team, but the key to winning was staying united and never letting our attitude drop.”

Staley Grant, Costa Rica’s leading scorer, added: “Guatemala was a very strong opponent. I feel that we could have given more, but unfortunately, we made too many mistakes. That made the difference because Guatemala played with very few errors.”

CHIRIQUÍ, Panama, September 19, 2025. – The Belizean squad handled Honduras with little trouble, winning 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-15) to advance to the fifth-place match against El Salvador, on the final day of the VII AFECAVOL U23 Men’s Central American Championship.

The loss left Honduras in seventh place in the event, without a single victory to their name after the group stage and classification round.

ÁLBUM BIZ VS HON

Belize had no issues dominating the match against Honduras, leading in attack points 40-30, blocks 9-6, and aces 4-2. They also committed fewer unforced errors with 19, compared to Honduras’ 22.

On offense for Belize, Kaelen Ingram led all scorers with 21 points, followed by Eleazar Mejía with 14.

For Honduras, Jesús Montes worked the hardest with 17 points, the only player on his team to reach double digits.

Regarding the victory, Eleazar Mejía, one of Belize’s top scorers, said: “We feel good with this victory, although we really regret not being able to qualify for the semifinals and play for a medal. We will face El Salvador in our next match. For us, this is a very important game, and we will give everything to take that fifth place.”

Meanwhile, Jesús Montes, Honduras’ leading scorer, stated: “We had many good moments, and others where our spirits dropped, but in the end we all tried to give our best for our team and our nation. It must be said that there is plenty of talent in Honduras; we just need to work more with it.”

Belize heads into the battle for fifth place with a 2-1 win-loss record, while El Salvador, who awaited their opponent after finishing third in Pool B, enters with a 1-2 record.

CHIRIQUÍ, Panama, September 18, 2025.- Belize pulled off a surprising victory over Guatemala 3-1 (21-25, 25-22, 25-15, 25-20) to close Pool A of the VII AFECAVOL Central American U23 Championship, a result that determined the semifinal matchups.

All three teams in Pool A finished with a 1-1 win-loss record, but the semifinal spots went to Panama, who topped the pool with six points, followed by Guatemala (5) in second place and Belize (4) in third.

ÁLBUM BIZ VS GUA

In the semifinal round, Guatemala will face Costa Rica while Panama will take on Nicaragua.

Belize will meet Honduras in the classification round; the loser of that match will finish in seventh place, while the winner will advance to the fifth-place match against El Salvador, who is waiting for an opponent after finishing third in Pool B.

Against Guatemala, Belize played inspired volleyball, using their powerful blocking to neutralize their opponent.

Belize dominated in blocking points 14-2, attacks 55-46, and serves 7-3, although they gave away more points on unforced errors 31-20.

Kaelen Ingram led Belize’s offense with 25 points, followed by Eleazar Mejía with 23. For Guatemala, Jerry Durán topped the scoresheet with 12 points, supported by José Pérez with 10.

After the match, Belize’s captain Kaelen Ingram said: “We played like a family. We went into the match against Guatemala knowing that if we wanted to win, we had to help each other out. For our next match, we will give our best. The team knows that in every match we must go out and fight.”

Meanwhile, Guatemala’s captain Josué González commented: “All our matches against Belize are always tough. The truth is we didn’t play our game and that hurt us. We tried to fight back after falling behind, but we couldn’t get the result we wanted.”

CHIRIQUÍ, Panama, September 18, 2025. – Costa Rica finished with a perfect 3-0 record and claimed the top spot in Pool B after defeating Nicaragua in a hard-fought duel 3-1 (25-17, 15-25, 25-20, 26-24), in the final day of pool play at the VII AFECAVOL U23 Central American Men’s Championship.

Nicaragua finished in second place with a 2-1 win-loss record, and like Costa Rica, now awaits the definition of the final standings in Pool A to determine the semifinal matchups.

ÁLBUM CRC VS NCA

Costa Rica faced its toughest test of the tournament against Nicaragua, after comfortable 3-0 victories over Honduras and El Salvador.

The Costa Rican squad imposed its superior blocking, scoring 13 points collectively against Nicaragua’s 7, and also led in attacking points 55-53.

Both teams were tied in service points 2-2 and were nearly even in points given away by unforced errors, with 22 for Costa Rica and 23 for Nicaragua.

Stanley Grant was Costa Rica’s main offensive weapon with 23 points, while Ignacio Sánchez finished with 12 and Yulius Brown contributed 11 points.

For Nicaragua, Yader León scored 15 points, Josué Blandón had 14, and Jesy Umaña added 13.

After the match, Costa Rica’s coach César Salas commented: “It was a very intense match; we were facing a very strong opponent. During the match we stopped making some of the adjustments we had discussed, especially in blocking, and it complicated things for us quite a bit. But in the end, our serve helped us a lot, and in the last set we were able to execute better in blocking.”

Meanwhile, Nicaragua’s coach Jorge Mena said after the match: “We wanted to win to take first place in the group, but it wasn’t meant to be. The boys lost focus at certain moments in the match, especially in the fourth set when we couldn’t score a key point. We must recognize that Costa Rica has great reach, and we couldn’t block at the right moments.”

Chiriquí, Panama, September 18, 2025.– The El Salvador National Team defeated Honduras 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-15) to claim its first victory at the VII AFECAVOL Men’s U23 Central American Championship, closing the group stage of the event.

El Salvador finished with a 1-2 win-loss record, placing third in Pool B, a position that guarantees them a chance to fight for fifth place on the final day of the tournament.

ÁLBUM ESA VS HON

Meanwhile, Honduras ended in fourth place with no wins and must wait for the third-place finisher from Pool A to know their next opponent, in a match that will determine seventh place and the other contender for the fifth-place match.

El Salvador controlled the match from start to finish, outscoring Honduras in attacks 36-28, blocks 9-4, and serves 4-2, while committing fewer unforced errors (15 compared to Honduras’ 26).

On offense, Abner Cano was the top scorer for El Salvador with 21 points, while teammate Andrés Reyes added 12.

For Honduras, Jesús Montes carried the scoring load with 20 points, the only player on his team to reach double digits.

Following the victory, El Salvador’s head coach Andrea Genova stated: “Against Honduras, the team was motivated to show what they are capable of. The guys displayed a different attitude and their true value against a rival more at our level, which allowed them to play with more calm and reach a better level, different from what they show against teams that put more pressure on them. In that sense, the players need to mature more and learn to handle pressure.”

For his part, Honduras’ head coach Miguel Pagoaga said after the match: “The taste of defeat is horrible. The boys collapsed in this match. We were not able to implement what we had really trained. The inconsistency hurt us a lot, and we could not execute as we wanted.”

CHIRIQUÍ, Panama, September 17, 2025.– Defending champion Guatemala overcame a rough start to defeat Panama 3-1 (20-25, 25-13, 25-23, 25-20), earning their first victory in the highly competitive Pool A of the VII AFECAVOL U23 Men’s Central American Championship.

Guatemala did not play on the tournament’s opening day but now adds an important win ahead of their match against Belize to close the group stage.

Panama, meanwhile, holds a record of one win and one loss, with one foot already in the semifinals, but must wait for the result of the match between Guatemala and Belize to determine the standings of Pool A.

ALBUM DE FOTOS GUA VS PAN

For Guatemala, José Pérez led the offense with 21 points, while Yeferson Zavala and Jerry Durán each contributed 16 points.

Wen Downer spearheaded Panama’s attack with 14 points, followed by Víctor Pérez with 13 and Víctor Araúz with 12.

The difference in the match was Guatemala’s offense, which collectively scored 60 points compared to Panama’s 45. Both teams were even in blocking points with 9-9. Guatemala had a slight edge in service points 3-2, but committed more unforced errors, 25 to Panama’s 23.

After the match, Guatemala’s team captain Jerry Durán said: “We struggled a bit at the start, losing the first set, but we managed to keep our rhythm and take the victory. We will play fewer matches in Group A, but the teams are very strong, so we have to give everything in every game to get the win.”

Panama’s captain Víctor Pérez commented: “We had a very close match. Guatemala is a team that knows how to play well; they move the ball very well. We didn’t achieve the goal we wanted, but we still have to keep fighting to make Panama proud.”

CHIRIQUÍ, Panama, September 17, 2025.– Nicaragua defeated El Salvador 3-1 (25-14, 25-18, 18-25, 25-18) to secure one of the two semifinal spots at the VII AFECAVOL U23 Central American Championship, improving their record to 2-0 in Pool B play.

Nicaragua still has one match left against Costa Rica in the final day of pool play, a duel that will determine the first-place finisher in the group.

El Salvador, winless in two outings, will face Honduras on the last day of pool play to determine the remaining Pool B positions.

It was not an easy match for the Salvadoran side, who took time to find their best rhythm.

ÁLBUM NCA VS ESA

Nicaragua outperformed El Salvador in attack points 49-44 and blocking 10-7, while both teams were tied in service points 2-2.

El Salvador’s efforts were caught up by unforced errors, committing 32 compared to Nicaragua’s 22.

Jesy Umaña led Nicaragua’s offense with 23 points, supported by Yader León with 14 points.

For El Salvador, Abner Cano was the top scorer with 20 points, followed by Andrés Reyes with 12.

After the win, Nicaraguan team captain Josué Blandón said: “We are happy with this result. Even though El Salvador was a tough team, we were able to get the victory a bit more comfortably. Our coach made the necessary changes when the match got complicated for us, and honestly, our bench did its job to secure the win.”

Meanwhile, El Salvador captain Andrés Reyes commented: “We knew the match against Nicaragua was very important, especially after losing our first one. At the beginning, we started off discouraged and with little focus, but when we managed to win the third set, the team’s spirit was lifted. Unfortunately, we couldn’t make things work, and we lost the last set because of some small mistakes we made.

CHIRIQUÍ, Panama, September 16, 2025.– Panama earned an important victory against a tough Belize team, 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 27-25), in the stellar match of the day, which opened Pool A action at the VII AFECAVOL U23 Men’s Central American Championship.

Panama capitalized on its advantage in blocking (9-3) and serving (8-1). Belize led in attack points (42-32) but could not find the balance to turn the final result around.

The key to Panama’s victory were the 28 points they scored off Belize’s unforced errors, compared to only 13 of their own.

ÁLBUM PAN VS BIZ

For Panama, Víctor Araúz and Kendrieck Newby finished with 11 points each, supported by Víctor Pérez who contributed 10 points.

Belize’s main offensive weapon was Kaelen Ingram with 22 points, but he received little support, with Eleazar Mejía being the team’s second-best scorer with 9 points.

Following the win, Panama’s coach Horacio Angulo said: “We knew that Belize is a very strong team, we were aware of what they could bring to this match, so we tried to work on our serving and consistency from the our outside hitters. This is definitely the ‘group of death,’ so every win is crucial. We know Guatemala’s trajectory, and the teams in the other group have their own strengths as well. For us, it’s about taking it one match at a time to try to reach the final.”

Meanwhile, Belize’s coach Albert Humes commented: “It was a very tough match, the players gave their best effort, but we must recognize that Panama did a great job. Now we must try to do things better in our next match.”

CHIRIQUÍ, Panama, September 16, 2025. – Costa Rica delivered a convincing performance, earning their first victory against El Salvador 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-20) in Pool B action on the opening day of the VII AFECAVOL U23 Central American Men’s Championship.

Costa Rica was consistent throughout the match, even though El Salvador stayed close on the scoreboard in all three sets but without seriously threatening their opponent.

ÁLBUM CRC VS ESA       

The Costa Ricans relied on their superior blocking, leading 11-8, and were dominant from the service line 8-2, while also edging El Salvador in attacks 34-32. In points from unforced errors, El Salvador gave up 22 compared to Costa Rica’s 19.

Offensively, four Costa Rican players reached double digits, led by Yulius Brown with 14 points, followed by Stanley Grant with 12, Ignacio Sánchez with 11, and Jeremy Vanega with 10.

For El Salvador, Gustavo Ortiz was the top scorer with 13 points, supported by Abner Cano with 12 and Andrés Reyes with 11.

Costa Rica’s head coach, César Salas, said after the win: “We are very pleased with the team’s performance. What we had planned before the match was executed to the letter, although there are a few minor things to correct. The team showed good blocking, very effective serving, and a solid attack – all our tools worked. Now we just have to keep growing in this tournament.”

Meanwhile, El Salvador’s head coach Andrea Genova stated: “We knew we were going up against the strongest team in the group. Despite that, we played well in our first match. We know the crossover matches are key to achieving a good result, so we must focus on the games against Nicaragua and Honduras.”

CHIRIQUÍ, Panama, September 16, 2025.– The Nicaraguan National Team came from behind to defeat Honduras in five sets (23-25, 22-25, 25-8, 25-12, 15-6), earning their first victory in Pool B action as the VII AFECAVOL U23 Central American Championship got underway.

Honduras started strong by taking the first two sets against a Nicaraguan squad that took time to find their best rhythm.

Nicaragua completed the comeback thanks to their superior attack, led by Yader León with 29 points, 27 on attacks and 2 from the service line.

Also contributing to Nicaragua’s offense were Jesy Umaña with 18 points and Josué Blandón with 16 points.

For Honduras, Jesús Montes was the only player to score in double digits, finishing with 14 points.

As a team, Nicaragua outperformed Honduras in attacks 69 to 33, and in service points 7-2. Honduras, however, had the advantage in blocks 9-3. Both teams were almost even in points from unforced errors, with Nicaragua conceding 32 and Honduras 31.

ALBUM FLICKR NCA vs HON

Following the victory, Nicaragua’s head coach Jorge Mena said: “The first two sets were very tough; the team made a lot of mistakes, and that hurt us. But we managed to make the necessary adjustments to turn things around and win the next three sets. We knew that losing this match would have greatly reduced our chances of advancing.”

Meanwhile, Honduras’ head coach Miguel Pagoaga explained: “We started very well, surprising everyone by winning the first two sets, but then the players struggled with reception. We have no choice but to work on improving those weaknesses for the next match. Reception errors and poor blocking positioning hurt us a lot.”

CHIRIQUÍ, Panama, September 15, 2025.- With the presence of seven well-prepared squads and a new competition format, the battle for the title at the VII AFECAVOL Central American Men’s U23 Championship is shaping up to be a very exciting one as the event kicks off this September 16.

The teams from Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Panama have declared themselves ready for action after completing all documentation during the preliminary interviews held before the start of the matches.

Guatemala, Belize, and Panama are in Pool A, while Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Honduras will battle in Pool B. After the group stage, the top finishers in each pool will advance to cross-over semifinals, while the remaining teams will compete for final ranking positions.

ÁLBUM ENTREVISTAS PRELIMINRES

Belize’s head coach, Albert Humus, stated: “This event is very important for Belize, our goal is to win a medal and thereby improve our level in this category. We definitely ended up in the ‘group of death.”

Guatemala’s assistant coach, Luis Fernando Castañeda, said: “Our goal is always to try to perform well and fight for the championships in every competition. Our athletes have been competing internationally, which is very helpful because it allows us to arrive with plenty of match experience. We know that all the teams in this event are strong, and both groups that were formed are challenging.”

Honduras’ head coach, Miguel Pagoaga, added: “We trained for eight months, so our assessment of the team is very positive. We came to this competition with a young team, a U21 category group, but one that has prepared very well. We believe our pool is quite manageable with chances to advance, but it will all depend on the players’ effort on the court.”

El Salvador’s head coach, Andrea Genova, mentioned: “For this competition, our expectation is to learn a lot from the tournament because we will be presenting a very young and renewed team. We were fortunate to end up in a group of four; we believe we can take advantage of the cross-over matches, but our goal is to deliver a good performance.”

Regarding the goals of the host team, Panama’s head coach, Horacio Angulo, stated: “As hosts, we seek to prepare well to try to reach the podium. We have a structured team with players from two categories who have done a good job in previous tournaments, so it is a group that knows each other well and includes players of good caliber. We will go game by game with this new format, and we hope things go well for us.”

Nicaragua’s head coach, Jorge Mena, explained: “Our expectation, as in every championship, is to aim for a medal. In our pool we face Costa Rica, Honduras, and El Salvador. We have a chance to advance but cannot underestimate our opponents. Our goal is to reach the next round and fight in the semifinals to reach the top.”

Regarding Costa Rica’s participation, head coach César Salas stated: “Our main goal is to fight for the title. We want to work responsibly and come out strong with this group of players we brought. In our group, all the teams are tough, they are teams that work well. We will not underestimate any of them, we will play hard in each match and try to qualify for the next stage convincingly.”

CHIRIQUÍ, Panama, September 12, 2025.– The Seventh AFECAVOL Men’s U23 Central American Championship will take place from September 16 to 20 at the La Basita Gymnasium in the province of Chiriquí, Panama, featuring a brand-new competition format that includes a preliminary group stage.

Until now, AFECAVOL tournaments in this category had been played in a round-robin format, where each team faced all other participants. With the introduction of the new group-stage system, the competition gains a new dynamic, making every match crucial for advancing to the final rounds.

All seven Central American countries will participate in the tournament, divided into two groups: Group A consists of five-time champion Guatemala, Belize, and Panama, while Group B includes Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Honduras.

At the conclusion of the group stage, the top two teams from each group will advance to the crossover semifinals (1A vs 2B and 1B vs 2A). The third-place team in Group B will qualify directly for the 5th/6th place match. Meanwhile, the third-place team in Group A will face the fourth-place team in Group B; the winner will play for fifth place, and the loser will finish in seventh place.

Guatemala enters as defending champion, having reclaimed the title in the previous edition, also held at La Basita Gymnasium in 2023, after losing it to Nicaragua in 2022. With five titles, Guatemala remains the most successful team since the tournament’s inception.

Schedule Preliminary Round

September 16

2:30 pm Nicaragua vs Honduras

5:00 pm Costa Rica vs El Salvador

7:30 pm Belize vs Panama

September 17

2:30 pm Nicaragua vs El Salvador

5:00 pm Costa Rica vs Honduras

7:30 pm Guatemala vs Panama

September 18

2:30 pm El Salvador vs Honduras

5:00 pm Nicaragua vs Costa Rica

7:30 pm Guatemala vs Belize

Year by Year Medalists

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 24, 2025.– Khaya Gordon of Team Belize was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 7th AFECAVOL U23 Central American Women’s Championship, which concluded successfully with the host team winning the title at home.

Khaya Gordon also received the award for First Best Outside Hitter, while her teammate Nisaan Martínez was recognized as the Best Opposite of the tournament.

ÁLBUM PREMIACIÓN

Sasha Kawas of Honduras claimed three individual awards: Best Receiver, Second Best Outside Hitter, and Top Scorer. Her teammate, Virginia Herdocia, earned the award for
Firs Best Middle Blocker.

From El Salvador, Alejandra Flores took home the honors for Best Digger and Best Libero.

María Santa Cruz of Guatemala was awarded  Best Server, while her compatriot Jimena Castellanos was recognized as Best Setter. From Panama, Sofía Centella earned the award for Second Best Middle Blocker.

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 24, 2025.- Belize was crowned undefeated champions at the 7th AFECAVOL U23 Central American Women’s Championship after defeating Guatemala 3-1 (25-9, 25-15, 21-25, 25-10) in the final match of the tournament.

This is Belize’s first-ever title in the U23 category, earned with a flawless 4-0 record. Guatemala secured second place with a 3-1 win-loss record.

Belize’s superior power made the difference, outscoring Guatemala in attacks 44-32 and dominating from the service line with a remarkable 17 aces to just 4 from their opponents. The Belizeans also led in blocks 12-8 and handled pressure better, conceding only 15 unforced errors compared to Guatemala’s 23.

Nissan Martínez led Belize’s offense with 20 points, supported by Khaya Gordon with 15. For Guatemala, María Santa Cruz was the top scorer with 15 points.

ÁLBUM BIZ v GUA

After the match, Belize head coach José Fontes said: “We’re very happy with this championship. We must acknowledge the quality of the Guatemalan team. The key to winning the title was our players’ focus and commitment to defense. We have strong offensive potential, a solid blocking system, and our service game was very effective.”

On the other side, Guatemala head coach William Fernández stated: “Congratulations to the Belize team. We struggled with our court reception, and that cost us the match. Without a doubt, Belize was the best team of the tournament. Second place is still a good result, we aimed to reach the final, we fought as hard as we could, but it wasn’t enough. Now we just have to work even harder for next time.”

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 24, 2025.– Honduras defeated El Salvador 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-9) to secure third place at the VII AFECAVOL Central American U23 Women’s Championship.

Honduras finished the tournament with a 2-2 win-loss record, while El Salvador ended with a 1-3 record, placing fourth.

Three players from Honduras reached double digits in scoring, led by Sasha Kawas with 18 points, followed by Virginia Herdocia with 11 and Dazly Duran with 10.

For El Salvador, team captain Allison Méndez was the top offensive contributor with 10 points.

Honduras dominated the match from start to finish, outperforming El Salvador in attacks (41-22) and service aces (12-5). Both teams were even in blocks (4-4), but El Salvador committed more unforced errors, giving up 18 points compared to Honduras’ 12.

ÁLBUM HON v ESA

After the match, Honduras’ coach Leonel Ulloa stated: “This third-place finish was what we had projected, without underestimating anyone. Against El Salvador, I expected a better performance, we have the bad habit of not maintaining our level. We’re leaving not fully satisfied; we think we could have done better.”

Meanwhile, Allison Méndez, captain of El Salvador, said: “We feel a bit disappointed because we didn’t play the game we were expecting. We lacked the mindset to apply more pressure and didn’t have the courage to keep attacking strongly. Looking ahead, this team has to improve a lot, both individually and collectively.”

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 23, 2025.– The Belizean team displayed their full strength to secure a comfortable 3-0 victory (25-16, 25-20, 25-18) over Honduras, maintaining their unbeaten record and keeping their hopes alive to battle for the top spot on the final day of the 7th AFECAVOL U23 Women’s Central American Championship.

Belize will face Guatemala in the feature match of the fifth and final day of the tournament, with both teams entering the contest undefeated with identical 3-0 win-loss records.

In the other match of the day, El Salvador will take on Honduras in a duel that will determine the third-place finisher of the event.

Belize dominated in attack points 34-23, blocks 27-6, and service aces 16-6. Both teams were nearly even in points from unforced errors, with Belize scoring 19 and Honduras 18.

Offensively for Belize, Khaya Gordon led with 16 points, supported by Nissan Martínez with 14. For Honduras, Sasha Kawas scored nine points, while Valeria Núñez and Andrea Aceituno contributed six points each.

ÁLBUM BIZ v HON

After the match, Belize captain Gareth Bruce stated, “We prepared well for this match; we knew Honduras is a tough team. We’ve trained hard to come out and win, and we have a lot of confidence in each other, that’s important to get the victories. For our last match, we’re well prepared. We know that facing Guatemala will be the toughest match of the tournament, but we feel ready to succeed.”

Meanwhile, Honduras captain Dazly Durán said, “Belize has very tall, well-trained players, and it was really hard for us to figure things out. But I feel like we played a good match. We still have a chance to go for a medal. We close against El Salvador in a tough match, but we’re going to give it our all, in search of the win.”

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 23, 2025.- Guatemala secured a place on the podium and remained undefeated at the 7th AFECAVOL U23 Central American Women’s Championship after defeating Panama 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-16) in the opening match of the fourth day of competition.

Guatemala now holds a flawless 3-0 win-loss record and faces a crucial match against Belize on the final day, which will determine the medal colors for both teams. Meanwhile, Panama concludes the tournament winless in four matches.

ÁLBUM GUA VS PAN

María Santa Cruz led Guatemala’s offense with 14 points, supported by Dulce Trigueño with 11. For Panama, Diana Osorio scored nine points, and Ekaterina Ureña added eight.

Guatemala dominated in attack points 46-22 and in blocks 8-5 but gave away more points through unforced errors 23-14. Both teams were even in service points at 7-7.

Following the win, Guatemala’s captain Jimena Castellanos said, “We’re very happy with the result. In the last U23 championship, we finished in fourth place, so we already see this participation as a win. We’re going all out in our next match against Belize. Panama is a team that defends very well; they made us work hard. It wasn’t an easy match, despite the score.”

Panama’s captain Ruth Rivas stated, “I leave feeling proud of my team because they’re a very talented group, despite the youth of many of its members. We couldn’t get past Guatemala in our final match, but we gave it everything we had. I think we lacked a bit more maturity, and even though we didn’t win a match, the girls gained valuable experience.”

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 22, 2025. – El Salvador came from behind to edge Panama in an intense five-set battle 3-2 (8-25, 15-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-8), earning their first victory in the VII AFECAVOL Central American U23 Women’s Championship.

The match featured a remarkable rally on the penultimate point of the fifth set, lasting nearly 1:56 minutes and involving 81 touches before El Salvador secured their 14th point. Finally, an opponent error gave them the win.

With this result, El Salvador improves to 1-2, while Panama remains winless with a 0-3 record.

Panama handed away 40 points on unforced errors, compared to 38 by El Salvador, a key factor in the outcome. Panama also led in attack points (43-36), blocks (10-7), and aces (10-6), but struggled to close the match despite several opportunities.

Allison Méndez and Paola Juárez led El Salvador with 16 points apiece, the only players on their team to reach double digits.

For Panama, Janeth Fuentes scored 16 points, Karla Alonso added 15, and Sofía Centella contributed 11.

ALBUM DE FOTOS ESA vs PAN

After the victory, El Salvador captain Allison Méndez said, “Thanks to God we earned our first win, and thanks to my teammates who fought until the end. We lost the first two sets, but when you’re down, you have to learn to fight back and that’s what we did in this match. We know this is a learning process for us, as we’re a team for the future, but we’re growing from this experience.”

Janeth Fuentes, Panama’s top scorer, commented, “We had many chances to win the match, but we made things difficult for ourselves. We could have achieved a good result. I think what hurt us was failing to block at key moments. This was our best performance in the tournament so far, we were hopeful to win and fight for third place.”

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 22, 2025.- Guatemala came out on top of a fierce five-set battle against Honduras with a 3-2 (25-11, 25-27, 22-25, 28-26, 15-13) victory that keeps their hopes alive for a top-podium finish at the VII AFECAVOL Central American U23 Women’s Championship.

The match could have gone either way, with Guatemala leaning on the experience of its players to prevail under pressure against a resilient Honduran team that never backed down.

Guatemala’s stronger service game made a difference, outscoring Honduras 16-6 in aces. They also led in attack points 53-51. Honduras had the edge in blocking 13-10 but gave up more points on unforced errors, 36 to 32.

María Santa Cruz led the Guatemalan offense with 24 points, including 10 aces, 12 kills, and 2 blocks. Dulce Trigueño added 17 points, and Annika Graniolati contributed 10.

For Honduras, Sasha Kawas scored 22 points, Dazly Durán had 15, and Shantte Siliezar finished with 13.

Guatemala now holds a 2-0 record and will next face Panama. Honduras stands at 1-1 and will take on Belize in their upcoming match.

ALBUM DE FOTOS GUA vs HON

Commenting on the win, Guatemala’s head coach William Fernández said, “It was a very tough battle for both teams, the match was decided in the final set by just two points. Both teams made adjustments that paid off at different moments, but I must congratulate Honduras for never giving up, even after a difficult first set. Above all, I applaud our team for finishing the match with grit. We had to rely on the character and experience of our players to win those crucial points.”

Honduras coach Marvin Ulloa added, “I always tell our players that we’re not only here to win, but also to put on a show. If we play good volleyball, we can win as well. Against Guatemala, it was a great match that added a lot to the event. In the end, nerves and a lack of experience from some of our players may have affected us a bit.”

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 21, 2025.- Belize faced little resistance on its way to a second victory at the VII Central American U23 Women’s Championship, closing out Monday’s action with a commanding 3-0 (25-5, 25-10, 25-11) win over El Salvador.

Belize now has two wins in as many matches and will rest during the tournament’s third day. El Salvador, on the other hand, suffered its second loss and will face Panama in its next match.

Belize used its height advantage to dominate, racking up 44 attack points compared to El Salvador’s 11. They also led with service points 16-0 and shut down El Salvador’s limited attempts to fight back with a 2-1 edge in blocks.

Khaya Gordon, Fatoumata Camara, and Nisaan Ramirez each tallied 14 points for Belize. For El Salvador, Allison Méndez contributed four points.

ALBUM DE FOTOS BIZ vs ESA

After the win, Belize coach José Fontes said, “It was a relatively easy victory, but what I take away from this match is the attitude of our captain (Gareth Bruce), who is dealing with the emotional loss of a loved one. She’s still doing a great job in this tournament. We know our next two matches will be more demanding, so we need to prepare and not let confidence get the better of us.”

El Salvador coach Dany Calderón commented, “I think the lack of attention that some countries give to national team development processes often comes at a high cost, and that’s affecting us now. Generational changes also play a role, we’ve brought 11 players who are U19, and among them some are U15 and U17. The experience they lack can only be gained in competitions like this, so this is the only way forward.”

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 21, 2025. – Honduras opened its campaign at the 7th AFECAVOL U23 Central American Women’s Championship with a comfortable 3-0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-12) win over Panama on the tournament’s second day of action.

After resting on the first day of competition, Honduras secured its first win, while Panama suffered its second loss of the event.

With a stronger offensive display, Honduras asserted dominance by outperforming Panama in key areas: 37-15 in attack points, 6-4 in blocks, 6-2 in service aces, and committed fewer unforced errors (18 to 26).

Sasha Kawas led the Honduran offense with 17 points, while Dazy Durán and Shantte Siliezar contributed eight points each. For Panama, Janeth Fuentes stood out with seven points.

Following Honduras’ successful debut, team captain Dazy Durán said: “We’re very happy to start this tournament on the right foot. This win helps us build some confidence heading into our second match, which will be tougher against Guatemala. Panama is a team that defends very well, but we stayed focused and worked well together.”

On Panama’s side, team captain Ruth Rivas reflected after the match: “We feel a bit frustrated because I truly believe we can do more than what we’ve shown. We always keep a positive attitude, even when we’re trailing, because letting our spirits drop completely would only make it worse. But we’re committed to pushing ourselves and giving our best in every match.”

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 20, 2025. – Belize delivered a dominant performance in their opening match of the VII AFECAVOL U23 Women’s Central American Championship, earning a convincing 3-0 victory (25-14, 25-6, 25-17) over Panama.

Belize showcased their powerful blocking and solid attacking game, leaving Panama with no chance to recover.

The home team controlled every aspect of the match, outscoring Panama in attack points 37-9, blocks 13-0, and service aces 5-2, although they committed more unforced errors, 26 to Panama’s 20.

ÁLBUM JUEGO BIZ VS PAN

ÁLBUM INAUGURACIÓN

Khaya Gordon led Belize’s offense with 16 points, followed by Nisaan Martinez with 12. For Panama, Ekaterina Ureña contributed 6 points and Janeth Fuentes added 5.

Commenting on the victory, Belize’s head coach José Fontes said, “A win is always important. We weren’t satisfied with our performance in the first set, but that’s normal for an opening match of a tournament. We improved significantly in the second set, and in the third, we had some good moments, although we slowed down a bit. We made some changes to give our younger players a chance, but the key takeaway is the win and getting the team into rhythm to achieve our ultimate goal.”

On the other side, Panama’s coach Eric Lucero shared, “The girls were a bit nervous; most of them have very little international experience. Belize’s blocking surprised us more than we expected. We knew we were up against a team with good height, strong blocking, and a powerful attack, and I think that had a psychological impact on our players due to their lack of experience.”

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 20, 2025. – Guatemala got off to a strong start at the VII AFECAVOL U23 Central American Women’s Championship with a comfortable 3-0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-16) victory over El Salvador in the opening match of the tournament.

It was a one-sided affair, with Guatemala in full control throughout, although El Salvador showed brief flashes of promise at the start of the match.

For Guatemala, María Santa Cruz led the offense with nine points, including seven kills and two aces. Jimena Castellanos and Annika Graniolati added eight points each.

El Salvador’s top scorer was Paola Juárez, who tallied six points in the match.

Guatemala dominated in attack points (34-12) and aces (11-6), while both teams were even in blocks with three apiece.

ALBÚM DE FOTOS GUA vs ESA

Following the win, Guatemala’s head coach William Fernández said, “The first match is always tough for any team. Congratulations to El Salvador for their performance, and especially to our team for earning the victory in three sets. The key to our success was our setting and finishing, even though we had some issues with our serve early on that we later corrected.”

Meanwhile, El Salvador’s coach Efraín Calderón commented, “We need to work more on our reception and be more consistent in finishing sets. For many of our players, this is their first tournament, and that has an impact. Guatemala has many experienced players in the U23 category, and that really helps them maintain their rhythm throughout the match.”

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 19, 2025. – The national teams of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Belize have declared themselves ready for the VII AFECAVOL U23 Women’s Central American Championship, an event that brings together the region’s rising volleyball talents.

Despite the notable absence of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, the tournament promises an exciting battle for the title. Two matches will be played each day from July 20 to 24 at the Belize City Civic Center.

ÁLBUM ENTREVISTAS PRELIMINARES

Regarding the event, Belize’s head coach José Fontes said: “We have a well-balanced team, with some experienced players and some very young ones. We hope the team improves with each match. We know the level of these tournaments has grown a lot; we respect all teams, and the one that performs best will win the championship.”

Guatemala’s head coach William Fernández stated: “Our goal is to play the best we can and reach the final match undefeated. There are five teams in this competition, so the fight will be very intense. Guatemala is well-prepared—we trained hard for six months.”

Honduras’ head coach Marvin Ulloa explained: “We’re coming with a mostly young team, but with a certain level of experience. We hope to have a good tournament. We know the participating teams are well-prepared and of good level, so it will be a very competitive event. Our goal is to win a medal.”

Gabriela Funes, assistant coach of El Salvador, mentioned: “Our team is well-prepared. It’s a squad full of young talent looking to perform at their best. Our goal is to finish among the top three. This event is a stepping stone before the senior category, so we hope our athletes give their best and apply what they’ve learned.”

Panama’s head coach Eric Lucero pointed out: “With this participation, we want to start a new process in Panamanian women’s volleyball. We’re bringing a very young team, with many players below the age limit for this event. We’re thinking about the future, looking for players with good physical profiles to reach the highest level in Central America. We know our Central American neighbors are more developed in this category, especially Belize, which has a very tall team. That’s why our main focus is on developing our players.”

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 18, 2025. – Excitement is building as Central America prepares for the seventh edition of the AFECAVOL U23 Women’s Championship, set to take place from July 20 to 24 at the Belize City Civic Center, where a new champion will be crowned.

The tournament will feature five national teams: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, and host nation Belize.

The absence of defending champions Nicaragua paves the way for a new regional titleholder. In the previous edition, held in 2024 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Nicaragua ended Costa Rica’s dominance, as they were aiming for a sixth consecutive title.

The competition will follow a round-robin format, with two matches played daily, promising excitement from start to finish.

AFECAVOL U23 FEMENINO

Competition Schedule

July 20

4:30pm   Guatemala vs El Salvador

7:30pm   Belize vs Panama

July 21

5:00pm   Honduras vs Panama

7:30pm   Belie vs El Salvador

Jully 22

5:00pm   Guatemala vs Honduras

7:30pm   El Salvador vs Panama

July 23

5:00pm   Guatemala vs Panama

7:30pm   Belize vs Honduras

July 24

5:00pm   Honduras vs El Salvador

7:30pm   Belize vs Guatemala

Year by Year Podium

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 13, 2025.- Andy Leonardo of Guatemala was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Second AFECAVOL Senior Men’s Final Four, held successfully from July 11 to 13 at the FESAVOL Gymnasium.

Leonardo also earned the award for Best Server of the event. Guatemala collected multiple individual honors, with Adolfo Rivas named Best Setter, and Carlos López awarded Second Best Spiker.

From Nicaragua, Miguel Castillo stood out by earning Best Digger, Best Libero, and Best Receiver, while Axel Gutiérrez claimed the honors for Best Opposite and Best Scorer.

Francis Hauze of Belize was recognized as Best First Spiker, and his teammate Hakan Godoy received the award for Second Best Blocker. Representing El Salvador, Diego Guido Guidos was named Best First Blocker.

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 13, 2025. – Guatemala was crowned undefeated champion of the Second Senior Men’s Final Four organized by AFECAVOL, after comfortably sweeping El Salvador 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-19) in the final match of the competition.

Guatemala finished the tournament with a perfect 3-0 record, while El Salvador was unable to secure a single win. Belize claimed second place, and Nicaragua took third.

The match against El Salvador was the only one where Guatemala could breathe easily, as their previous encounters against Nicaragua and Belize went the full five sets before they emerged victorious.

Andy Leonardo led Guatemala’s offense with 13 points, supported by Carlos López with 11 and José Pérez with 10. On the Salvadoran side, Ricardo Navarro finished with 11 points.

Reider Lucas, head coach of Guatemala, commented after the title win: “We had prepared well for this event, and it also serves as an important step for us on the road to the Central American Games. Our goal was to perform well, especially because last year we were left with a bitter taste after losing at home”.

Andrea Genova, head coach of El Salvador, stated: “We knew this tournament would be of a very high level. The teams came well-prepared, especially Belize, who surprised everyone in this event. For our part, injuries affected us a lot and hurt us at the start of the tournament, but overall, the players showed some improvement in each match”.

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 13, 2025. – With a relentless attack and a solid, nearly impenetrable block, Belize defeated Nicaragua 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-21) to secure the silver medal at the Second Senior Men’s Final Four organized by AFECAVOL.

Belize finished the tournament with a 2-1 win-loss record, guaranteeing them second place, while Nicaragua concluded with a 1-2 record, placing them in third.

ÁLBUM BIZ VS NCA

It was a one-sided match, with Belize leading in every statistical category: attacks (41-31), blocks (10-2), and aces (5-1). Despite conceding more points on unforced errors (22-19), it had no impact on the final outcome.

On offense, Francis Hauze led Belize with 17 points, followed by Ernest Broaster with 14. For Nicaragua, Axel Gutiérrez was the only player to reach double digits, scoring 14 points.

Elton Anderson, team captain for Belize, shared after the match: “We are very excited about this victory. We had lost our previous match, but this time we stayed organized and overcame our mistakes. We played with more strategy and managed to control our emotions. This was one of our best matches, especially against Nicaragua. I’m very happy and emotional because this is my last tournament; I’m getting a bit old, so I say goodbye with this win”.

Jorge Mena, head coach of Nicaragua, reflected: “We needed to train harder before the event, and the players needed to understand what they were up against. Now it’s time to reflect and accept that we need to work much harder if we want to win a medal at the Central American Games”.

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 12, 2025. – Nicaragua earned its first win at the AFECAVOL Senior Men’s Second Final Four with a convincing 3-0 victory over El Salvador (28-26, 25-18, 25-19), facing little resistance throughout the match.

With this result, Nicaragua evens its record at 1-1, while El Salvador remains winless after two match days.

On the final day of competition, Nicaragua will face Belize in a crucial matchup, as both teams aim to secure second place in the standings. Meanwhile, undefeated Guatemala will go up against El Salvador, looking to close the event on a high note.

Nicaragua dominated the match, facing real pressure only in the opening set. They finished with a clear advantage in attack points (51-38) and service aces (4-1). El Salvador showed some spark at the net, leading in blocks (8-5), but gave up more points through unforced errors (18-16).

“Unfortunately, we lost our first match, but against El Salvador we stayed focused. El Salvador plays better at home, but we stayed calm, and that helped us get the result we wanted, which was to win,” said Nicaragua’s captain Jonny Zeledón.

El Salvador’s captain, Mario Nochez, commented after the match: “We only have one match left against Guatemala, who have clearly been the strongest team in this Final Four. But we will fight until the end, we’re going to battle in that match and try to give Guatemala a good game. Against Nicaragua, we played well in the first set but lost our focus in the rest of the match.”

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 12, 2025. – Guatemala had to dig deep to overcome Belize in a hard-fought five-set battle, winning 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 26-24, 21-25, 15-11). The victory marked Guatemala’s second win at the AFECAVOL Senior Men’s Final Four, with just one match day remaining in the tournament.

Guatemala remains undefeated with a 2-0 record, while Belize sits at 1-1.

On the final day of competition, Sunday, July 13, Guatemala will face hosts El Salvador in a bid to secure the top spot in the standings. Belize, meanwhile, will take on a tough Nicaraguan squad.

Andy Leonardo led Guatemala’s offense with 24 points, supported by Carlos López, who contributed 17. Belize’s top scorer was Francis Hauze with 19 points, followed by Karym Coleman with 13 and Ernest Broaster with 12.

Though both teams tried to dominate at the net, Guatemala came out on top in attacking points (63-56) and service aces (5-2). Belize excelled in blocking (15-5) but gave up 36 unforced errors compared to Guatemala’s 34.

“It was a very tough match. Belize is a team that has been preparing well in recent years for the Central American Games. I think all teams push harder when they play against us. Playing five sets is always challenging because those final 15 points can go either way. The key to this victory was the spirit we maintained throughout,” said Guatemala’s top scorer Andy Leonardo.

Belize’s captain, Elton Anderson, shared his thoughts: “Guatemala is a very strong team. We gave our all in the match, but they know how to handle any situation. It was a good game for us, our strengths are attacking and blocking, but we made too many errors today.”

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 11, 2025.– Belize got off to a strong start at the Second AFECAVOL Senior Men’s Final Four, defeating El Salvador 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 25-22, 25-19) in the closing match of the opening day.

Belize displayed great dominance at the net, outscoring El Salvador 14-12 in blocks. They were also more effective on offense, with a 54-46 advantage in attack points, and added six aces, while El Salvador failed to score any from the service line.

Although El Salvador showed improved play in the second set, Belize maintained control throughout the match, even after conceding 30 unforced errors compared to El Salvador’s 22.

Karym Coleman led Belize with 27 points, including 23 kills, 2 blocks, and 2 aces. Francis Hauze contributed 16 points.

On El Salvador’s side, Ricardo Navarro was the top scorer with 16 points, followed by Eduardo Bolaños with 12 and Diego Guidos with 11.

Belize will face a tough challenge in their second match against Guatemala, while El Salvador will go up against Nicaragua, with both teams looking for their first win.

“We’re really happy to have earned this win. In the first Final Four we played, we couldn’t win our opening match, so starting this new edition with a victory is fantastic for us. We hope to carry the same momentum into our second match,” said Albert Humes, head coach of Belize, after the match.

Regarding the loss, El Salvador’s coach Andrea Genova said, “This was an up-and-down match for us. We have a couple of injured players who weren’t available at the start. They came in briefly, but they’re not ready to play a full match. Not having a stable lineup cost us, especially in those moments where we struggled to score.”

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 11, 2025.- Guatemala came from behind to snatch a 3-2 victory (21-25, 24-26, 25-22, 25-19, 15-12) over Nicaragua in the opening match of the Second AFECAVOL Men’s Senior Final Four.

Nicaragua took an early lead by winning the first two sets but couldn’t sustain their momentum against a Guatemalan team that steadily improved and walked away with an important win.

Guatemala led in attacking points 63-58, was more effective in blocking 12-10, and outperformed in serving 5-3, although they conceded 33 points from unforced errors compared to Nicaragua’s 30.

Carlos López led Guatemala’s offense with 26 points, supported by Andy Leonardo who contributed 23 points.

For Nicaragua, Axel Gutiérrez was the top scorer with 25 points, while Jonny Zeledón and Denis García each added 17 points.

On the second day of action, Saturday, July 12, Nicaragua will face El Salvador, while Guatemala takes on Belize.

“We knew it was going to be a tough match. Nicaragua has managed to put together a group of players with a good level of play. This match could have gone either way. Despite being down 0-2, our guys knew how to grow and turn the match around,” said Guatemala’s head coach Reider Lucas after the game.

Meanwhile, Nicaragua’s head coach Jorge Mena commented, “We had a 2-0 advantage in the match and were even leading in the third set, but we didn’t know how to capitalize on it. After that, the team collapsed, and we couldn’t keep up the spirit.”

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 10, 2025.– With Nicaragua coming in as the defending champion, the Second Edition of the AFECAVOL Men’s Final Four will kick off on Friday, July 11, featuring the national teams of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Belize alongside the titleholders.

The FESAVOL Gymnasium will host the event, which will feature two matches per day from July 11 to 13.

All participating teams completed their preliminary interviews and declared themselves ready for what is shaping up to be an intense competition in the quest for the championship trophy.

ALBUM ENTREVISTA PRELIMINARES

Jorge Mena, head coach of the Nicaraguan team, shared his thoughts on the challenge ahead in this Second Final Four: “The team is motivated and ready for the challenge. We are 100% prepared for the three matches ahead. As always, our goal is to take first place. We have a tough opening match against Guatemala, but I have confidence in our players”.

Andrea Genova, head coach of El Salvador, stated: “We’re coming in highly motivated. We know we have a good team, made up of experienced veterans and promising new athletes. The level of this event will be very high, with strong opponents, so we expect spectacular matches”.

Belize’s head coach, Albert Humes, explained: “We hope Belize will be one of the top teams in this Final Four. The teams here have significantly improved and developed, and Belize is no exception. That’s why our expectations for this competition are very high.”

Guatemala’s coach, Reider Lucas, commented: “Our goal in this competition is to achieve a good result. We’ve prepared well for this tournament, and we’re confident that things will go our way. The boys are coming in with a lot of energy and determination to get a strong result”.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, December 15, 2024. – On the fifth and final day of competition, Costa Rica defeated Nicaragua 3-1 (25-15, 21-25, 25-15, 26-24) to claim the title as undefeated champions in the inaugural Central American “Invitational” U15 Girls’ Volleyball Championship, held at the Volleyball Gymnasium of the Nicaraguan Sports Institute (IND).

Costa Rica finished the event with a perfect 5-0 record, Belize secured second place with a 4-1 record, and El Salvador took third place with a 3-2 record.

Guatemala finished in fourth place with a 1-4 record, while Honduras closed the competition in fifth place without any victories in five matches.

In other matches played on the final day, Belize defeated Guatemala 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-20) and El Salvador 3-0 (25-15, 25-23, 25-12).

During the awards ceremony, the following individual recognitions were presented:

Sofía Quesada of Costa Rica, MVP and Second Best Spiker

Kelliany Rodriguez of Costa Rica, Best Setter

Emaun Marin of Belice, First Best Spiker and Best Scorer

Charlotte Martínez of Costa Rica, First Best Blocker

Gabriela Salter of Nicaragua, Second Best Blocker

Adriana Vargas of El Salvador, Best Opposite

Kimberly Silva of Nicaragua, Best Digger and Best Libero

Jamielee Espejo of Belice, Best Service and Best Receiver

BOLETIN No.6

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, December 14, 2024.- Costa Rica triumphed in a hard-fought battle against Belize, winning 3-0 (26-24, 25-19, 25-23) to move within reach of the championship at the inaugural U15 Central American “Invitational”  Girls’ Volleyball Tournament on Saturday at the Volleyball Gymnasium of the Nicaraguan Sports Institute (IND).

With this victory, Costa Rica secured its fourth consecutive win, having previously defeated Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.

Costa Rica are now preparing to conclude their participation in grand style, taking on hosts Nicaragua this Sunday at 6:00 p.m.

In another intense match, El Salvador overcame Guatemala 3-1 (25-9, 25-23, 21-25, 25-10) to stay in contention for a medal. This marked El Salvador’s third victory, along with one loss. El Salvador has defeated Nicaragua and Guatemala but fell to Costa Rica.

Nicaragua also delivered a standout performance, remaining in the hunt for a podium finish after defeating Honduras 3-0 (25-9, 25-17, 25-14).

The final day of competition features a pending match between Guatemala and Belize at 8:00 a.m. Additionally, Belize will face El Salvador at 2:00 p.m., and Guatemala will take on Honduras at 4:00 p.m.

BOLETÍN No.5

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, December 14, 2024.- Panama’s opposite hitter Víctor Pérez was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the XV AFECAVOL U19 Central American Men’s Volleyball Championship, the final official tournament of 2024 in the region.

Pérez was one of the tournament’s top scorers, finishing with 26 points in the championship match against Guatemala. He led Panama to a historic title, breaking a nearly 40-year drought after falling short in the finals in 1986 and 1996, where they earned silver medals.

The Panamanian standout Víctor Pérez was also the tournament’s Top Scorer and the Second Best Spiker.

Guatemala’s players also excelled, with Santiago Mena earning the Best Server award, Josué González recognized as the Best Receiver, and Christian Álvarez as the Second Best Blocker.

From Belize, Lawrence Mahler was named the Best Setter, while Orion Butler claimed the award for Best Blocker. David Garbutt was recognized as the Best Digger and Best Libero.

Nicaragua’s Devin Hooker received the award for Best Opposite, while Costa Rica’s Ignacio Morales was named the Best Spiker.

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, December 14, 2024.- Panama overcame a tough challenge, battling through a dramatic five-set match to defeat Guatemala 3-2 (13-25, 25-19, 32-30, 14-25, 15-10), and claim an undefeated championship title in the XV AFECAVOL U19 Central American Men’s Volleyball Championship.

With this victory, Panama stamped its name as champions in the category for the first time. Previously, Panama had earned two silver medals in 1986 and 1996, and two bronze medals in 2009 and 2017.

The top three places of the tournament were confirmed with Panama finishing at the top with a perfect 6-0 record. Costa Rica took second place with a 5-1 record, while Guatemala secured third with a 4-2 finish.

Panama had to dig deep and remain composed against a formidable Guatemalan team that led in blocking, earning 22 points to Panama’s 9.

Despite this, Panama was more effective in attack points 49-45 and service points 11-7, though they gave away 35 unforced errors compared to Guatemala’s 30.

Victor Pérez led Panama’s offense with an impressive 26 points, supported by Víctor Araúz with 17. For Guatemala, Omar Mendoza and Christian Álvarez each scored 16 points.

After securing the championship, Panama’s head coach Horacio Angulo said: “We knew it would be a tough match against Guatemala, but we made the necessary adjustments and secured the title. Guatemala gave us a hard time in the first set, but the team stayed calm and focused”.

Meanwhile, Guatemala’s head coach Luis Castañeda reflected: “We never give up on a match. Guatemala is known for its fighting spirit and determination, regardless of the opponent. We leave with a sense of pride; things didn’t go as we hoped, but third place is still a good result”.