SANTA ROSA DE COPÁN, Honduras, September 11, 2022.- El Salvador controlled Honduras 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-15) on the first day of competition of the XIV Boys’ U19 Central American Championship of AFECAVOL at the Santa Rosa Copan Gymnasium.
El Salvador jumped to a comfortable advantage, leaving Honduras with little chances to recover throughout the game.
El Salvador ended with a huge 29-16 margin in attacks and 11-2 in service points, while Honduras prevailed in blocks 11-6. El Salvador committed 22 errors and Honduras 29.
Outside hitter Rafael Vargas of El Salvador led all scorers with 19 points on 13 attacks, one block and 5 aces, joined by outside hitter Marlon Solorzano with 10 points on 9 attacks and one ace.
With 6 points, outside hitter Leonardo Villegas led Honduras.
On day two of competition, El Salvador (1-0) faces Belize (1-0) and Honduras (0-1) against Nicaragua (0-1).
Gerardo Hernández, head coach of El Salvador: “We knew we had to battle against the host and being this our first game, we needed to shake off the nerves. We let Honduras commit the errors, we tried to pass the ball, the pressure was for Honduras and my boys gave their maximum trying not to fail in serves. We are glad about the result; we hope to keep the energy to score the necessary points”.
Miguel Angel Pagoaga, assistant coach of Honduras: “It’s hard, it hurts to fall at home. In the second set the team was down mentally, we tried to move the team, but it was complicated. These kids that never had competed internationally, the gym was full, and the pressure was too much, it was complicated”.