MANAGUA, Nicaragua, October 12, 2024.- Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Belize claimed important victories on the second day of the inaugural Central American U15 Girls’ Volleyball “Invitational” Championship, held at the Volleyball Gymnasium of the Nicaraguan Institute of Sports (IND).
After a stumble on opening day, host Nicaragua earned its first victory in dramatic fashion, defeating Guatemala 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 26-24) with a nail-biting finish.
“It was a tough match. The girls were very nervous, so we made adjustments, gave more players experience under pressure, and managed to win,” said Nicaragua’s coach, Julio Alfaro.
Meanwhile, Costa Rica maintained its perfect record, securing a second consecutive win by overcoming a resilient El Salvador team.
“We owe it all to our coaches. We’ve built a great team, and it’s a new team. Beating El Salvador wasn’t easy. Having our families here is very motivating,” said Costa Rica’s captain, Luciana Vargas.
Belize made an impressive debut by defeating Honduras 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-12).
“It was a first game with some challenges, especially emotional ones, but that’s normal at their age. I’m pleased with their determination to win,” explained Belize’s coach, José Fontes.
On day three of competition, El Salvador and Honduras meet at 2:30 p.m., followed at 4:30 p.m. by Costa Rica and Guatemala, and at 6:30 p.m. Honduras faces Nicaragua.
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