TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, July 3, 2026. – Nicaragua closed its campaign at the II AFECAVOL Girls’ U17 Central American Volleyball Championship with a straight-set 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-18) victory over El Salvador to secure fifth place in the tournament.
Nicaragua held a clear advantage in attacks (35-19) and service points (10-5). El Salvador scored the only block of the match (1-0), while both teams posted nearly identical numbers in unforced errors, with 30 by El Salvador and 29 by Nicaragua.
Alejandra Cisne and Melie Velásquez led Nicaragua’s offense with 12 points apiece. Andrea Guatemala was El Salvador’s top scorer with 11 points.
Claudia Noguera, head coach of Nicaragua: “This is a very important tournament for this age category because it allows us to see the development of volleyball throughout Central America. We have seen a very good level from all the teams. I believe Nicaragua could have achieved a little more, but we have a very inexperienced group. Now we must continue preparing for the age category that truly corresponds to them, the U15 Central American Championship in December.”
Melie Velásquez, Nicaragua’s standout player: “My performance reflects the strength, growth, and development I have achieved over the past three years playing volleyball, and that makes me very proud. Last year I played as a libero in the U15 category, and now being able to compete as an attacker in a more demanding age group is very rewarding. It was a difficult tournament, but we finished with a victory. For many of us, it was the first time playing together, although some of us had already been teammates before, and that gave us confidence.”
Gabriela Funes, head coach of El Salvador: “This tournament was a great challenge for our team. We came with players who had no previous competitive experience, and it showed us the importance of strengthening our national leagues for these age groups. The girls needed that developmental process. I am confident this experience will contribute to their growth and help them be better prepared for future competitions.”
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