MANAGUA, Nicaragua, October 18, 2026.– Guatemala captured the bronze medal at the 3rd AFECAVOL Women’s Final Four after defeating Belize in an exciting five-set battle, 3-2 (25-19, 22-25, 25-18, 22-25, 15-11), led by María Santa Cruz, who scored 24 points at the Volleyball Gymnasium of the Nicaraguan Sports Institute (IND).
Guatemala relied on Santa Cruz as its main offensive force, supported by captain Ivana Sopegno and Andrea Garcés. Setters Jimena Castellanos and Carolina Caal, who came off the bench, played key roles in distributing the ball and directing Guatemala’s offense.
Belize responded with its strength in attack and blocking, relying on Fatoumata Camara and captain Nelissa Ramírez. Middle blocker Amayah Lino also stood out, while libero Karen Quan and opposite Clara Sabal contributed with their defensive efforts in an intense battle for the bronze medal.
The match reflected how evenly matched the two teams were. Guatemala held a narrow advantage in attacks (60-59) and blocks (8-7), but made a significant difference from the service line, recording 10 aces compared to Belize’s 4. Belize committed 28 unforced errors, while Guatemala finished with 24.
Santa Cruz led Guatemala’s offense with 24 points, including 19 attacks, 3 blocks and 2 aces. Garcés added 13 points, Sopegno contributed 12, and middle blocker Anika Rosales finished with 11, delivering key plays at crucial moments, particularly in the third set.
For Belize, Fatoumata Camara was the leading scorer with 22 points, followed by Nelissa Ramírez with 15 and Amayah Lino with 14.
Santa Cruz highlighted Guatemala’s mental strength in securing a podium finish after a tournament in which the team continuously worked to improve its performance.
“This was the last thing we could do. Throughout the tournament, we kept trying and trying and thank God we finally got the result we needed to reach the podium. As a team, we have been talking about improving because there is always room to get better, and today we did it. It was mental, it’s all mental. We didn’t do anything we hadn’t practiced; the key was to get ourselves going and finish our plays. I’m grateful to God,” said Santa Cruz.
Guatemala’s head coach Julio Domínguez emphasized the team’s rebuilding process and the collective effort that led to the bronze medal.
“This is a team sport that requires going through different stages. We consider this a U21 group. We went through a generational transition, and we knew there would be a price to pay. We believe God helped us come out victorious in the end,” Domínguez said.
“We have a strong strategy in Guatemala. Coach William Fernández couldn’t be with us today, but we work as a team. Together, as we have done for several years, we developed the right strategy to overcome a strong Belize team,” he concluded.