Tag: Volleyball

David, Chiriquí, Panama, September 29, 2023 – Guatemala defeated Panama 3-1 (25-16, 20-25, 25-17, 25-17) and won its fifth title in the AFECAVOL Central American Men’s Championships with still one match left in the sixth edition of the tournament.

Guatemala has only stumbled once in the six editions of Age-group, which was last year against Nicaragua. Even though they faced tough matches this year, they showed courage to earn victories in games that seemed lost.

With a strong defense that allowed setter Daniel Ralón to distribute the ball effectively to his attackers, Guatemala forged their crown and put the final gem in the fourth set with a convincing 25-17.

José Pablo Pérez was once again the leading attacker for Guatemala with 22 points, and Carlos Caballeros contributed 11. Gherson Ortiz was the top scorer for Panama with 27 points, and Denzel Arboine added 12.

Guatemala had led 50-48 in attacks, 7-5 in blocks and 7-3 in aces, while committing 19 unforced errors compared to Panama’s 31.

AFECAVOL SUB23 MASCULINO, PANAMÁ

QUOTES

Reider Lucas, coach of Guatemala: “This is a very interesting competition; in every  country, we have very talented athletes, and they demand that we come well-prepared. This is a competitive tournament, not just participative, and it helps us continue to improve the level of play. In fact, this category is the foundation of the senior national teams. It is played at a high level and is very demanding, with intense rivalry in Central America. We have a bright future; that’s why we give the younger players the opportunity  to take on responsibility”.

Javier Lucero, captain of Guatemala: “We dedicate the first photo to our physiotherapist who always accompanies us, for the work he does with us, but this time he couldn’t be here. We are very happy with the result; that’s what we came here for, to be champions, and we continue to collect more gold medals for Guatemala and raise its name high”.

David, Chiriquí, Panama, September 29, 2023 – Nicaragua battled to defeat Honduras 3-1 (21-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-20) and reached three wins with two losses at the VI AFECAVOL Men’s U23 Central American Championship at Centro Deportivo La Basita.

Honduras, which has no victories in this tournament, started by winning the first set due to Nicaragua’s passiveness, who couldn’t respond. Leonardo Villegas of Honduras scored 11 points in that first set.

Nicaragua managed to recover to lock the win in four sets but struggled to overcome  Honduras’ persistent offense.

Lenín Gómez and Josué Blandón led Nicaragua with 15 points each. Leonardo Villegas from Honduras led all scorers with 28 points, and his teammate Javier Díaz added 15 points.

Nicaragua scored 38 points on Honduras’ unforced errors, while Honduras held a 52-50 advantage in attacks, 10-7 in blocks, and 5-1 in aces. Nicaragua gave away 19 points on  errors.

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QUOTES

Jorge Mena, coach of Nicaragua: “Now, everything is getting complicated for us because we should have won in three sets. The tournament is becoming challenging for us due to our setters (one of the starters got injured before the tournament), and we had to use an opposite player to secure the match, and we did it”.

“We don’t see tomorrow’s game (against Belize) as difficult or impossible. We must bring out the best from the entire team to try to defeat Belize and have a chance at the medal, but it will be tough. My team knows that tomorrow is do or die, and it will depend on the attitude we bring to the game”.

David, Chiriquí, Panama, September 29, 2023 – Costa Rica concluded the VI AFECAVOL Men’s U23 Central American Championship defeating El Salvador 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-19) on the penultimate day of the event at Centro Deportivo La Basita.

Costa Rica finished the tournament with three wins and three losses, awaiting the results of the other teams to determine their final position. El Salvador has a record of 2-3 and will play against Panama on Saturday at 7:30 PM (Panama time).

Yulius Brown finished strong with 17 points, Juan Diego Delgado with 13, and Andru Jones with 12 for Costa Rica. Abner Cano of El Salvador was the top scorer of the match with 19 points.

Costa Rica held a 41-38 advantage in the attacks and led El Salvador by a significant 12-2  margin in blocks, with four effective blocks from Alessandro Signini and three from Jones. Additionally, Costa Rica had a 2-1 advantage in serves. El Salvador committed 20 unforced errors compared to 14 by the winners.

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QUOTES

Johan Morales, coach of Costa Rica: “Obviously, I would have liked to finish in the top three. Now, I must wait for the results, but I am very happy with the boys. This is a new process that is just beginning. It’s the first time I have a junior national team, and I am very proud of them. In the end, we closed as we had to. We had the opportunity to beat Nicaragua and Guatemala, but these are the things that come with experience, like Guatemala has, they know how to finish”.

“That’s what we are looking for in Costa Rica, to have that experience against high-level teams because in Central America, we are very evenly matched in men’s volleyball. I’m going back home, maybe not happy, but content because we have grown with these new players.”

David, Chiriquí, Panama, September 28, 2023 – Guatemala (4-0) continues its dominant performance after defeating Costa Rica 3-1 (22-25, 28-26, 25-16, 25-21) on day five of the VI AFECAVOL Men’s U23 Central American Championship at La Basita Sports Center.

After losing the first set, Guatemala responded in the second by focusing on their defense, allowing them to recover from a four-point deficit (16-20) and then a two-point deficit (20-22) to close with a dramatic 28-26 and tie the match.

In the third and fourth sets, Costa Rica maintained the pressure, but setter Daniel Ralón distributed Guatemala’s attack between Carlos Caballeros and Yefeson Zavala, who each finished with 16 points, Jason Hernández with 15, and Leonardo Molina with 14.

For Costa Rica, Juan Diego Delgado scored 18 points, and Yulius Brown finished with 11.

Guatemala led in attacks 69-47 and in blocks 8-5. Costa Rica had a slim advantage in service points 4-3 but gave away 32 unforced errors compared to Guatemala’s 20.

Costa Rica plays against El Salvador on Friday at 2:30 p.m. (Panama time), and Guatemala faces Panama at 7:30 p.m.

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QUOTES

Leonardo Molina, middle blocker of Guatemala: “It was difficult for us to adapt and find our rhythm, but once we started, we didn’t stop, and we managed to improve. The good thing is that we are more than a team; we are a family because we have a strong friendship, and that helps us. If someone can’t solve a situation, the other steps in and does it. Attitude was crucial today; we didn’t give up, and that helped us”.

Carlos Caballeros, opposite hitter of Guatemala: “I’m happy to contribute to the team and reach our goal. There are two important matches left, and we will try to do our best. I feel that we are a team that knows what we’re here for, and each one tries to do their best. Today, we had a good attitude, and that was important”.

David, Chiriquí, Panama, September 27, 2023 – Belize secured a straight-set victory over Panama 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-22) in the closing match of the fourth day of the VI AFECAVOL Men’s U23 Central American Championship at La Basita Sports Center.

Belize improved to two wins and two losses, while Panama holds one victory and two losses.

Belize’s blocking made a difference with an 11-4 advantage, where Ernest Broaster and Kaelen Ingram contributed three blocks each. Belize also led in attacks with 44-35 and in serves 3-1. Panama committed 17 unforced errors compared to 22 from Belize.

For Belize, Broaster finished with 15 points, Ingram added 14, while Kerwin Palacio and Eleazar Mejía each scored 12 points. Denzel Airbone was Panama’s leading scorer with 14 points.

Belize will play against Honduras on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. (Panama time), and Panama will face Nicaragua at 7:30 p.m.

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QUOTES

Albert Humes, coach of Belize: “This game was very important for us because we can still stay close to the podium. So, we talked to the guys and told them we had to be fully focused. We’ve been in situations where we won the first two sets and then failed, like against Guatemala, so today we had to be more focused in the final set”.

Ernest Broaster, captain of Belize: “It feels good to win after losing yesterday and the day before. We needed to win today. We needed to show the guys that we can finish in three sets. We started slow, but we picked up and closed the set, which is what we’ve needed for a long time. Now, we just need to keep it up in the coming days”.

David, Chiriquí, Panama, September 27, 2023 – Nicaragua rallied twice in the match to overcome Costa Rica 3-2 (22-25, 31-29, 19-25, 25-18, 15-12) on the fourth day of the VI AFECAVOL Men’s U23 Central American Championship at La Basita Sports Center.

In the second set, Nicaragua was trailing 12-18 but managed to tie the score, taking the action to a dramatic 31-29 finish, where both teams showed their thirst for victory.

Costa Rica seemed on track for victory as they dominated the third set, jumping to a 10-point lead that Nicaragua tried to recover from. In the fourth set, Nicaragua had complete control, securing a 20-12 lead and forcing a fifth set after closing it out 25-18.

In the fifth set, with Josué Blandón contributing six points and Evan Solís adding three, along with great team defense, Nicaragua improved their tournament record to 2-1, while Costa Rica stands at 2-2.

Evan Solís scored 24 points in Nicaragua’s victory, Yader León added 17, and Josué Blandón contributed 15.

Yulius Brown from Costa Rica was the top scorer of the match with 25 points. Harold Rodríguez contributed 20 points for Costa Rica, and Octavio González recorded 14, seven of them through blocks.

Nicaragua led in attacks 71-64 and in serves 5-3, but Costa Rica excelled in blocks 17-11. Both teams gave up 25 points on unforced errors.

Costa Rica plays against Guatemala on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. (Panama time), and Nicaragua faces the host team from Panama at 7:30 p.m.

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QUOTES

Jorge Mena, coach of Nicaragua: “Another bittersweet victory because we had two players injured, and we’ll see how we manage to finish the tournament. The other guys who came in did their job and showed a lot of heart and courage to recover from a good lead that Costa Rica took from us. We will keep working to recover them and try to be on the podium because I believe we still have many possibilities”.

Jordan Carcache, libero of Nicaragua: “We are super happy; it was a victory that really cost us. Everyone did their job, both those on the court and those who came in because we have players with a high level. We managed to recover from a big disadvantage, and that helped us regain some confidence”.

David, Chiriquí, Panama, September 27, 2023 – Guatemala reached three victories with zero losses after prevailing over El Salvador 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-21) on the fourth day of the VI AFECAVOL Men’s U23 Central American Championship at La Basita Sports Center.

Guatemala was trailing from the beginning set with a four-point deficit 8-12 but managed to take the lead when they reached the technical timeout at 16-12 without any response from El Salvador, maintaining the advantage until the end.

Guatemala capitalized on scoring 30 points from El Salvador’s errors and gave up 18. The match was balanced with a 36-34 advantage in attacks for Guatemala, both teams tied at 6 in blocks and 3 in points from serves.

José Pablo Pérez was Guatemala’s top scorer with 12 points, followed by Jason Hernández who added 10. For El Salvador, Julio Hunter scored 12 points, while Abner Cano and Douglas Gómez each scored 10 points.

Guatemala remains the only undefeated team in the tournament, while El Salvador holds a 2-2 record. On Thursday at 2:30 p.m. (Panama time), Guatemala will face Costa Rica, while El Salvador will have a rest day.

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QUOTES

Reider Lucas, coach of Guatemala: “El Salvador put us in a tight spot; they started playing a more effective game, but once again, we managed to balance, come back, and win the match. The truth is that these five points help us a lot in the standings. We still have half of the championship left, and we want to take it one game at a time to see how we progress in the competition”.

Jason Hernández, middle blocker of Guatemala: “We reached the goal of winning in three sets, which leaves us quite satisfied because it was our main objective. Now, we need to make the most of the rest day because we have another demanding match ahead, and we need to be in the best condition. We must be very aware of what we do in each game and make the most of the rest periods. We already have 13 sets under our belt halfway through the tournament”.

David, Chiriquí, Panama, September 26, 2023 – Costa Rica defeated Panama 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-16) to secure their second victory qt the VI AFECAVOL Men’s U23 Central American Championship at La Basita Sports Center.

Costa Rica (2-1) faced resistance from Panama (1-1) in the early points of each set, but with consistent attacking and good defense, they took a lead that proved impossible for their rivals to overcome.

Costa Rica led in attacks 46-30, blocks 9-3, and serves 4-3. Both teams committed a similar number of unforced errors, Costa Rica with 15 and Panama with 16.

Yulius Brown with 19 points (15 attacks, two blocks, two aces) was Costa Rica’s top scorer, while Juan Delgado finished with 17 points, and Harold Rodríguez with 12. For Panama, Denzel Airbone led with 13 points, and Gherson Ortiz contributed 11.

On Wednesday, Costa Rica (2-1) will face Nicaragua (1-1) at 5:00 p.m. (Panama time), while Panama (1-1) will take on Belize (1-2) at 7:30 p.m.

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QUOTES

Yulius Brown, top scorer of Costa Rica: “This result helps us a lot to have a good point difference. I am very proud and happy for this victory. I think the key today was consistency, not missing serves, maintaining the attack, and continuing to work together.”

Juan Delgado, outside hitter of Costa Rica: “We are very happy because in this tournament, we have been improving gradually. In the first match, we were a bit nervous, for some of the players it’s their first time in the national team, but thanks to God, we have been able to adapt a bit more, and with the work of our coaches and all the teammates, coming together as a group, we have been able to win matches”.

David, Chiriquí, Panama, September 26, 2023 – El Salvador secured its second victory of the event after defeating Honduras 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-10) at the beginning of the third day of the VI AFECAVOL Men’s U23 Central American Championship at La Basita Sports Center.

Honduras still hasn’t seen victory in three outings, and on Tuesday, they couldn’t overcome a focused El Salvador that did edged with its serves and was effective in blocking.

El Salvador (2-1) led in attacks 33-23, blocks 10-5, and serves 8-1. Oscar Martínez stood out with four effective blocks, Abner Cano and Julio Hunter with 4 and 3 aces respectively for El Salvador, which committed only 15 unforced errors compared to 24 by their opponents.

Abner Cano scored 13 points for El Salvador, and Leonardo Villegas from Honduras scored 11.

On Wednesday, El Salvador will face Guatemala at 2:30 p.m. (Panama time), while Honduras has a rest day.

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QUOTES

Fernando Navarro, libero of El Salvador: “After the first game, we have gained confidence and improved as a team, which has been important. We always prepare to face strong teams; the mindset changes a lot when you come in focused and prepared for what you’ve been training for. We have the goal of defending the bronze from the last edition, and God willing, we can change the color of the medal”.

Ricardo Mira, middle blocker of El Salvador: “I’m happy that the team is starting to come together. The first day was a bit strange, as we were getting the team focused, but today we looked better and getting in better shape as a team”.

David, Chiriquí, Panama, September 25, 2023 – Costa Rica defeated Honduras 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-18) to lock their first victory in the VI AFECAVOL Men’s U23 Central American Championship at the La Basita Sports Center.

Costa Rica outperformed Honduras in attack 38-27, blocking 12-6, and serving 6-3. Both teams committed 19 unforced errors.

Juan Diego Delgado with 19 points was the top scorer for Costa Rica, with Harold Rodríguez and Yulius Brown contributing 12 points each. Leonardo Villegas with 11 and Jonathan Mendoza with 10 were the top scorers for Honduras.

Honduras will play against El Salvador on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. (Panama Time), and Costa Rica will face Panama at 7:30 p.m.

AFECAVOL SUB23 MASCULINO, PANAMÁ

QUOTES

Johan Morales, coach of Costa Rica: “After yesterday’s match, the team needed this victory because they seemed very nervous, very tense. We also started a bit tense in this match, but we managed to turn the circumstances around with a very important 3-0 win. Credit must be given to the opponent as they also made their effort”.

Luis Solano, captain of Costa Rica: “Today, we were better as a team. Honduras played a good game, but with confidence, we managed to gain an advantage, especially in the closing moments. We always stayed very close, even coming from behind in some sets to come back and win”.

Héctor Duarte, captain of Honduras: “I think we could have done much better, but we had lapses in concentration, and the emotional aspect affected us quite a bit. In the first and third sets, we started well and then dropped, and we couldn’t recover. We can improve so we can show a better version of us”.

David, Chiriquí, Panama, September 25, 2023 – El Salvador managed to recover after losing the first set and overcome a three-point deficit in the fourth set to defeat Belize 3-1 (12-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-22) on the second day of the VI AFECAVOL Men’s U23 Central American Championship at the La Basita Sports Center.

Belize was dominant in the first set, establishing an overwhelming lead over El Salvador, scoring five aces and three blocking points. From the second set onward, things changed, with Belize committing 10 unforced errors and limited to just one block, without scoring points on service. In the third set, El Salvador led the attack, just as they did in the fourth set when they rallied from being down 18-21 to finish with a 25-22 victory.

El Salvador led the attack 49-48. Belize performed better in blocking 9-2 and in serving 8-3, but they committed 33 unforced errors compared to 27 from El Salvador.

Julio Hunter scored 18 points, followed by Abner Cano with 15 for El Salvador. Kaelen Ingram from Belize was the top scorer of the match with 22 points, accompanied by Kervin Palacio with 13 points and Ernest Broaster with 12.

El Salvador will play against Honduras on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. (Panama Time), and Belize will face Guatemala at 5:00 p.m.

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QUOTES

Andrea Genova, coach of El Salvador: “The fatigue from the first day was important because it didn’t allow the boys to concentrate. Today, we were more relaxed, more rested, and we found some changes that went in our favor during the game. Now, it’s evident that we’re a better team, as we didn’t have much training this year. Our team is good, and we know we have a lot to develop, but it’s a matter of gaining confidence and reacting”.

Abner Cano, captain of El Salvador: “We feel happy, proud of what we’ve accomplished  because we improved a lot compared to the first game, and we enjoyed the match. We came with the desire to win, and we showed it on the court. The team couldn’t quite click at first, but then we did, and we turned it into a good match”.

Albert Humes, coach of Belize: “We have to go back to the drawing board and try to make the players understand the importance of every point in the game. It wasn’t that the other team was better in serving or attacking; it was our focus on the game. El Salvador scouted us well, and our team couldn’t recover quickly. The sets were close, and at the last moment, we got nervous. The lack of matches to get our team in good shape and better prepared was evident in this game”.

David, Chiriquí, Panama, September 24, 2023 – Panama displayed strength in their 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 25-11, 25-13) victory over Honduras in the closing match of the opening day of the VI AFECAVOL Men’s U23 Central American Championship at the La Basita Sports Center.

Despite losing the second set, the home team excelled in attack and blocking, especially with Gherson Ortiz scoring 19 points (18 attacks, one block) although suffering an ankle injury in the fourth set. Victor Arauz added 17 points (13 attacks, 3 blocks, one service), and Denzel Airbone contributed 15 points (14 attacks, one block).

Honduras’ top scorer was Leonardo Villegas with 15 points.

Panama dominated with a 55-35 advantage in kills and an overwhelming 12-0 lead in blocks, closing with a 6-3 edge in serving. Honduras committed 25 unforced errors compared to Panama’s 28.

Honduras will play against Costa Rica on Monday at 5:00 p.m. (Panama time), and Panama has a rest day.

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QUOTE

Eric Lucero, coach of Panama: “It’s super important to start with a win, especially as hosts. The second set was a bit complicated for us, but we managed to regroup, evaluate, and win the match. It’s positive how the guys reacted; we can’t be overconfident when we have the upper hand. They need to know that other teams also prepare”.

Daniel Andrade, captain of Panama: “I feel very happy; thanks to God, we got the victory. It wasn’t easy; we fought for it as a team. One important thing is that we didn’t lose our spirit after losing the second set. We kept fighting and climbing to win the match”.

José Reyes, coach of Honduras: “Honestly, I’m pleased; the guys did a good job against the host team. We have experienced players and many young ones who need that experience, and there are several scenarios where you can give them the opportunity, hoping they gain experience. Overall, I liked how they performed and faced the first game”.

David, Chiriquí, Panama, September 24, 2023 – Nicaragua began with a 3-0 victory (25-19, 25-16, 25-18) over El Salvador in the second match of the opening day of the VI AFECAVOL Men’s U23 Central American Championship at the La Basita Sports Center.

Defending champion Nicaragua was strong in blocking with a 9-3 advantage, they also led 5-2 in service points and 28-25 in attacks. El Salvador committed 33 unforced errors, while Nicaragua had 23.

Josué Blandón scored 10 points for Nicaragua, while Gustavo Ortiz secured eight for El Salvador.

El Salvador will face Belize on Monday at 2:30 p.m. (Panama time), and Nicaragua will go up against Guatemala at 7:30 p.m.

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QUOTES

Jorge Mena, coach of Nicaragua: “Today is a bittersweet day because we don’t know if our opposite player (Yerick García) who got injured today will continue, and we had to win the match, and that was the objective. Let’s see what awaits us tomorrow; we can only take it one game at a time”.

Rafael Hernández, captain of Nicaragua: “We did well today; the team achieved the objective even though El Salvador put up a fight. I think the best thing we had and what helped us a lot was our reception, which allowed us to have a strong attack”.

Andrea Genova, coach of El Salvador: “Our team had a long journey; they even canceled our flight, and we arrived yesterday with little rest. I believe this is normal with a young team that needs more time to improve. As the tournament progresses, we will see a better team”. 

David, Chiriquí, Panama, September 24, 2023 – Kaelen Ingram with 28 points, led Belize to  a 3-1 (25-16, 25-18, 21-25, 25-19) victory against Costa Rica, in the opening match of the VI AFECAVOL Men’s U23 Central American Championship at La Basita Sports Center.

Ingram was unstoppable with 24 points on sattack, 3 in blocking, and one ace, joined by Ernest Broaster, who contributed 19 points, and Eleazar Mejía with 18. Yulius Brown scored 21 points for Costa Rica.

Belize led in attacks 66-37, blocks 9-4, and service 7-5, although they committed 32 errors compared to 14 from Costa Rica.

Belize will play its second match on Monday against El Salvador at 2:30 p.m. (Panama time), and Costa Rica will face Honduras at 5:00 p.m.

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QUOTES

Albert Humes, coach of Belize: “I feel very good; thanks to this victory, we feel more confident for the upcoming matches. I think we had some doubts at the beginning because not the entire team had trained together, but then the players showed what they had trained for, and everything went well”.

Kaelen Ingram, top scorer of Belize: “I feel very good about coming to the tournament; it’s the first time I’ve met the entire team but getting to know each other and seeing what they’ve learned is completely different. Half of the team is in the United States, and the other half is in Belize, but when we play, we do it very well. This was like my first practice with the entire team, but we came with a sharp mindset that we were here for victory”.

Johan Morales, coach of Costa Rica: “We knew about the strength of the Belizean team; historically, they have been like that. There was a work plan that the boys didn’t follow, and for many, as it was their first playing for the national team, nerves got the best of them. Now, we need to correct things because we haven’t lost our chances for medals. It’s only the first game, and we need to focus on tactics and fix the reception, which was terrible today”.

DAVID, Chiriquí, Panama, September 23, 2023 – Seven national teams eager to claim the gold medal have gathered in this city to compete in the VI AFECAVOL Men’s Under-23 Central American Championship, to be held at La Basita Sports Center.

All the delegations have submitted their documents meeting the requirements of the Control Committee, chaired by Mr. Carlos Enrique Santis, General Secretary of AFECAVOL. They are ready to fight “point by point” to step onto the podium, as their coaches have indicated.

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Albert Humes, coach of Belize: “Our expectations are high. Belize is knocking on the door of greatness, of being number one in Central America. Our expectation is to come here and give our best and make our country proud. In fact, we have a fairly young team. We have young players as young as 16, even one who is 15, so most of our players are under 21, some can play in the U19 team and the U17 team. So, we still have a good progression of players for the future greatness of our country”.

Johan Morales, coach of Costa Rica: “We come here with a happy group, very united. We have been working for quite some time, and I believe this is the team I have been able to work with the most because of the time with the boys. We come with young players with a lot of talent and hunger to bring Costa Rica its first gold medal in this category. That’s the goal, to go step by step and steadily. At this age, concentration is crucial, and in the men’s competition, it’s very close, respecting all the opponents, as seen in the Senior Central American Championship”.

Andrea Genova, coach of El Salvador: “We expect to perform well. Our team is not bad; we can fight for a spot on the podium and see if we can get a medal in the competition. We know that everyone has the same goal; it’s a fairly even competition, but some teams stand out more. We will go point by point in each game. It’s the last youth tournament before reaching the senior level, and several athletes are already in the senior national team, which is why the level is very high”.

Reider Lucas, coach of Guatemala: “We want to progress through the event. We know it’s very important because many athletes are part of the senior national teams, and it’s a tournament with a high level in the region. We want our boys to enjoy the competition, continue to develop, and try to achieve the goal match by match, fighting point by point, and having a good competition”.

José Reyes, coach of Honduras: “We have a generation that has had a lot of experience in U19 and U23 tournaments, along with the addition of new young players that we have started to form, with the aspiration of reaching the senior national team. We are happy; we have a renewed group with the desire to do things well, everyone is ready, including the coaching staff, to perform well”.

Jorge Mena, coach of Nicaragua: “We know it’s a tough tournament, and we will try to do our best, but we know that all the teams are strong, and a great tournament awaits us, of a high level. We know our rivals and the level of some countries like Guatemala or Costa Rica, but we are going game by game to see how we can land on the podium and then change the medal, but above all, give our best in each match”.

Eric Lucero, coach of Panama: “We have high expectations, aiming for the podium, as we did years ago. A very good job has been done in forming the national team; we have athletes with good experience in the younger categories. In the U21 category, we managed to get on the podium with a silver medal. We have realized that all the countries in the region are working hard. Volleyball has grown, we have all grown, and we are aiming for the highest level”.

First day, Sunday, September 24

2:00 PM Costa Rica vs. Belize

4:30 PM El Salvador vs. Nicaragua

7:00 PM Opening Ceremony

7:30 PM Panama vs. Honduras

DAVID, Panama, September 19, 2023 – The sixth edition of the AFECAVOL Men’s U23 Central American Championship will be held at the Centro Deportivo La Basita in David, the capital of Chiriquí, Panama, from September 24 to September 30.

The seven Central American countries will arrive in David on Friday, September 22, and undergo preliminary inspection on Saturday, September 23. The round-robin competition will kick off on Sunday, September 24, with three daily matches.

Guatemala has dominated the event since its inception in 2012, having won four consecutive gold medals (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018). Guatemala lost the title to the current champion, Nicaragua, who won the gold medal in the last edition in San Salvador. Guatemala finished in second place, and El Salvador in third.

In addition to a gold medal, Nicaragua has one silver medal. Costa Rica has a total of three medals, two silver and one bronze, El Salvador has two bronze medals, and Honduras has one bronze.

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Competition Schedule

Sunday, September 24

2:00 pm Costa Rica vs Belize

4:30 pm El Salvador vs Nicaragua

7:00 pm Opening Ceremony

7:30 pm Panama vs Honduras

Monday, September 25

2:30 pm Belize vs El Salvador

5:00 pm Honduras vs Costa Rica

7:30 pm Nicaragua vs Guatemala

Tuesday, September 26

2:30 pm El Salvador vs Honduras

5:00 pm Guatemala vs Belize

7:30 pm Costa Rica vs Panama

Wednesday, September 27

2:30 pm Guatemala vs El Salvador

5:00 pm Nicaragua vs Costa Rica

7:30 pm Belize vs Panama

Thursday, September 28

2:30 pm Costa Rica vs Guatemala

5:00 pm Honduras vs Belize

7:30 pm Panama vs Nicaragua

Friday, September 29

2:30 pm El Salvador vs Costa Rica

5:00 pm Nicaragua vs Honduras

7:30 pm Guatemala vs Panama

Saturday, September 30

2:30 pm Belize vs Nicaragua

5:00 pm Honduras vs Guatemala

7:30 pm Panama vs El Salvador

Medalists year by year:

Year	Gold	Silver	Bronze
2012	GUA	CRC	HON
2014	GUA	CRC	ESA
2016	GUA	PAN	CRC
2018	GUA	NCA	PAN
2022	NCA	GUA	ESA

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, September 12, 2023 – Marcela Araya, team captain of Costa Rica was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the XXII AFECAVOL Women’s Senior Central American Cup, which concluded on Tuesday at the Alexis Arguello Sports Complex.

Araya played a crucial role in helping Costa Rica win its 19th title in the history of this tournament, with 16 of them in a row. Araya also received the award for Best Outside Hitter. Her teammate, María José Castro, received recognition as the Best Defese and Best Libero.

The Best Service award went to María Andrea Santa Cruz from Guatemala, the Best Receiver award was given to Carmen Chávez from El Salvador, and her teammate Daniela Sánchez was awarded Best Setter.

From Belize, Nelissa Ramírez was named the second Best Outside Hitter, and Nissan Martínez was the second Best Blocker.

The awards for Best Blocker and Best Scorer went to Ana Gabriela Marcelín from Honduras.

The Best Opposite award was presented to Lolette Rodríguez from Nicaragua.

AFECAVOL COPA MAYOR FEMENINA 

After receiving the recognition as the Most Valuable Player of the event, Marcela Araya said, “It’s truly a night filled with many emotions. Thank God we were able to finish strong despite that first set we had. I am infinitely thankful to God for my health, for allowing me to play for almost 17 years with the national team, which makes me proud. I am happy to have ended my indoor volleyball career with this group of warriors; that’s what they are, and now it’s time to celebrate”.

She added, “I also want to thank the coaching staff, each and every person who supports us, and the girls for their commitment, which is reflected on the court, but it’s the result of what we have cultivated during our training”.

Costa Rica’s coach, Pablo Acuña, praised Marcela, saying, “She is a player who is prepared to be the best in every game, with an exemplary work ethic. Today, she bids farewell to the National Team; it was her last game, and she deserves all the highest honors as the best player of the event”.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, September 12, 2023 – Costa Rica defeated Honduras 3-1 (17-25, 25-17, 25-12, 25-18) on the final day of the XXII AFECAVOL Women’s Senior Central American Championship at the Alexis Arguello Sports Complex adding another title to their collection that began in 1977

Costa Rica clinched their 19th title, their 16th in a row since 1993. Besides Costa Rica, only Panama and Honduras have claimed the Central American title; Panama twice (1974, 1976) and Honduras once in 1991.

This is the second silver medal for Honduras, their first was in 1997, and they hadn’t reached the Central American podium since then.

After losing the first set, coach Pablo Acuña adjusted, bringing in Tannia Carazo and Angélica Rodríguez, who contributed to their team’s strong control of the game.

Costa Rica dominated in attacks 49-31, blocks 9-4, and serves 9-6, while committing 31 unforced errors (mostly in the first set) compared to Honduras’ 25.

Tatiana Sayles was Costa Rica’s top scorer with 19 points, Tannia Carazo scored 16, and Marcela Araya contributed 13. Ana Marcelín was Honduras’ top scorer with 13 points.

Both Carazo and team captain Marcela Araya received a recognition from their teammates as they announced that this was their last match with the national team, concluding careers of over 15 years with the Costa Rican national team.

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QUOTES

Pablo Acuña, coach of Costa Rica: “The game was challenging; we knew Honduras would play a good game. They are a team that has been improving, with good players and coaching staff. I’m very pleased that all the players were able to contribute to the team as they did throughout the tournament. Against Nicaragua, it was Mónica, today it was Tannia, Tamara stood out in another match; that says a lot about their character and preparation”.

Tannia Carazo, outside hitter of Costa Rica: “I’m very happy to have contributed to my team. From the beginning of the tournament, I brought a mentality of fighting and helping my teammates, whether on or off the court. Today, I was given the opportunity, and I’m truly delighted because I came with a strong desire to contribute to my team; that was very clear to me. This is a day filled with many emotions. I’m very happy to say farewell in this way. It has been a beautiful and enriching journey as an athlete”.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, September 12, 2023 – Nicaragua prevailed over Belize 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 26-24) to win the bronze medal at the XXII AFECAVOL Women’s Senior Central American Championship at the Alexis Argüello Sports Complex.

This is the ninth bronze medal for Nicaragua, they also have won seven silver medals, with the last four in 2012, 2014, 2017, and 2021.

Nicaragua staged a comeback from being down 20-24 in the third set, thanks to Juny Aguilera’s serves, which included a couple of aces and disrupted Belize’s attack, allowing them to turn the score around.

Lolette Rodríguez scored 16 points, and Erica Calero contributed 11 for Nicaragua, while Shantell Arnold scored 11 points for Belize. Nicaragua committed 18 unforced errors compared to 22 from Belize.

Nicaragua did better in attacks 43-24 and in serves 8-6, while Belize outperformed them in blocks 6-3.

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QUOTES

René Quintana, coach of Nicaragua: “The girls deserve all the recognition. Almost all of them train, work, or study, and some even have to take care of their children because they are already mothers, and all of that is a great sacrifice. We knew it would be a tough match, and they gave their all on the court with the support of this great crowd”.

Miriam Blandino, libero of Nicaragua: “I feel very happy because I’m retiring from the national team with a bronze medal. Maybe we wanted more, a medal of a different color, but we all made a great effort, and I think we deserve the medal. It has been a sporting life filled with sacrifices and a lot of effort, and here are the fruits of that”.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, September 12, 2023 – El Salvador defeated Panama 3-1 (25-8, 25-19, 24-26, 25-9) to conclude the XXII AFECAVOL Women’s Senior Central American Championship with three wins and three losses at the Alexis Arguello Sports Complex.

El Salvador dropped the second set to a determined Panama to finish the event with a 3-3 record and 16 points, awaiting the result between Belize and Nicaragua to determine their final position.

El Salvador led in all aspects of the game, with a 46-29 advantage in attacks, a 10-6 lead in blocks, and an impressive 19-3 advantage in serves, including 6 aces from setter Daniela Sánchez. Both teams committed 24 unforced errors.

María Jiménez Hunter led El Salvador with 19 points, and Gabriela Funes contributed 11. Hashlyn Cuero finished with 16 points for Panama.

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QUOTES

Adriana Flores, captain of El Salvador: “We had the opportunity to win the game 3-0, but the coach wanted to give the girls who will be in the under 23 team in the coming months in El Salvador a chance and measure their level. Unfortunately, we couldn’t win that set, but in the next one, we managed to recover our rhythm. Obviously, you always want more, but overall, we had good matches and a good performance, especially considering it’s a young team with a bright future”.

Maria Jiménez Hunter, top scorer El Salvador: “I’m happy to contribute to my team’s victory and motivated for the next tournament. I think it was a good tournament; there were many surprises, teams that weren’t high in the rankings managed to stand out. It was quite an interesting tournament”.

Managua, Nicaragua, September 12, 2023 – Kevanna Sebastian, a player from Belize, has become an internet sensation due to her use of sunglasses during the XXII AFECAVOL Women’s Central American Volleyball Cup in Nicaragua.

Born in 1998 (25 years old), has already played more than 40 matches with the Belize national team, but it’s during this competition that she has attracted attention for a particular accessory she uses while playing.

It’s her eye-catching sunglasses that she wears due to a vision problem, making the Belizean middle blocker the talk of volleyball forums and even on Volleyball World social media.

“I have a curve in my right eye. My left eye is stronger. My eyes are very sensitive to bright lights; they give me headaches that lead to migraines. I have trouble driving at night with bright car lights, and my glasses adjust to the light’s brightness to protect my eyes.”

“I started wearing glasses in 2018, but they were regular ones. My vision worsened, and my eyes are very sensitive. If I’m not wearing my glasses, I get a headache, and after that, it turns into a migraine, and then I can’t do anything. What my glasses do is remove the glare and bright light, simply.”

Due to this condition, the use of these glasses had to be evaluated by the event’s medical committee, and they approved their use during the Central American Championship, without imagining that this would set a precedent in the history of international volleyball.

“It’s not a luxury, they’re just glasses, but they are medical prescription. I received them a couple of months ago; before that, I only had glasses for bright light. About three months ago, I started using them. While I was playing, bright light used to affect me a lot; if it hit my eyes directly, I couldn’t see. But now I have no problems, and it doesn’t affect my play; they are comfortable, and there’s no issue in using them.”

Kevanna is aware of the effects of her condition, but that doesn’t stop her from representing her country and motivating the younger generations. Thanks to her new glasses, she can continue playing without any side effects.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, September 11, 2023 – María Andrea Santa Cruz with 12 aces led Guatemala over Panama 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 27-25), a tournament-high on points from serves at the XXII AFECAVOL Women’s Senior Central American Cup at the Alexis Arguello Sports Complex.

Santa Cruz was unstoppable in her serves, and in addition to the 12 aces, she added five points on kills, for a total of 17 points in Guatemala’s final match in the event, finishing with a 1-5 record.

Hashlyn Cuero was Panama’s top scorer with 13 points, three of them also in serves.

Guatemala earned the victory thanks to a huge 16-7 advantage in service points, while Panama led 3-1 in blocks. Both teams scored 29 attacking points, with Guatemala committing fewer unforced errors (22-31).

Panama concludes the tournament against El Salvador at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

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QUOTES

William Fernández, coach of Guatemala: “Psychologically, it’s good to finish with a victory. We didn’t meet the goal we had set, without blaming the youth of the athletes, but it’s something to consider. If they stay together, they will achieve good results in the future. They worked well yesterday, as well as today. We had many sets where we didn’t close, like yesterday when we were leading 10-5 (against Nicaragua in the fifth set), but we lacked confidence”.

María Santa Cruz, outside hitter of Guatemala: “Honestly, I’m relieved. I was able to make my serve, but I didn’t have it at the beginning of the tournament until the game against Costa Rica, where I managed to figure out where and how to do it. I’m satisfied with myself and the work we’ve been doing. Also, I didn’t know I had made so many “aces”.  I think overall we were a bit unfocused and couldn’t come together, work as a team properly. It’s a shame that we only achieved it at the end, but we are satisfied with our performance”.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, September 11, 2023 – El Salvador had no trouble defeating Belize 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-14)  to start the sixth day of the XXII AFECAVOL Women’s Senior Central American Cup at the Alexis Arguello Sports Complex.

Both, El Salvador and Belize have a 2-3 win-loss record and 12 points.

El Salvador led in attacks 41-24, in service points 8-6, and Belize had a slim 3-2 advantage in blocking 3-2. El Salvador committed 15 unforced errors, while Belize totaled 24.

María Jiménez Hunter was the top scorer for El Salvador with 15 points, and for Belize, Nissan Martínez scored 13.

El Salvador will face Panama at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, and Belize will take on Nicaragua at 6:30 p.m.

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QUOTES

Adriana Flores, captain of El Salvador: “Each team is played differently, each one has a different strategy, and that’s the rhythm of the game. Today we were calmer, but always with that bittersweet taste because we expected a different result throughout the tournament, and right now it’s not a loss, it’s all about adding points, being calm and confident in what we are doing”.

María Jiménez Hunter, top scorer of El Salvador: “We came with the mindset of putting on a better performance than last time, trusting in our coaching staff and our abilities. I think we were prepared to do better, but something worked against us, I don’t know if it was nerves, pressure, something affected us, and for this match, we prepared on our day off, and things went well”.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, September 10, 2023 – Nicaragua earned a thrilling five-set victory over Guatemala 3-2 (18-25, 25-20, 17-25, 25-14, 15-11) in the closing match of the fifth day of the XXII AFECAVOL Women’s Senior Central American Cup at the Alexis Arguello Sports Complex.

The home team, supported by hundreds of fans, rallied from a 1-2 set deficit to win the fourth set and in the fifth set, trailing 5-10, mounted a comeback with 8 consecutive points, clinching the triumph.

Lolette Rodríguez once again played an important role in Nicaragua’s victory scoring 20 points, including seven in the fourth set to revive Nicaragua’s hopes, and closing the fifth set with five points, giving them a better chance at a medal. Josafat Díaz contributed 13 points and Erika Calero added 10.

Andrea Mendizabal led Guatemala with 19 points, María Santa Cruz scored 16, and Aury Alvarez contributed 11.

Nicaragua dominated in attacks 53-48, but Guatemala performed better in blocks 8-6 and serves 11-6. Nicaragua scored 35 points from Guatemala’s errors and gave up 28.

On Monday, Guatemala will face Panama at 4:00 p.m., and Nicaragua will play against Honduras at 6:00 p.m.

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QUOTES

René Quintana, coach of Nicaragua: “We knew that all the games in this round are tough; there are no small enemies here. But the good thing is that we achieved the victory, even when we were down by five points in the fifth set. The team knew how to do things, and all the credit goes to them. Our rookies have responded, and in the end, they did their job and fulfilled their role”.

Brisa Pérez, outside hitter of Nicaragua: “I’m very excited, very happy with this victory, with the adrenaline still at a hundred. I had the opportunity to come in, and thank God, I was able to do things right. I’m grateful to my coaches for the opportunity to be here”.

Andrea Mendizabal, middle blocker of Guatemala: “We’ve put in a lot of effort, even though we haven’t achieved the result we were pursuing, which we had back in  Guatemala. Since yesterday’s game, we’ve been playing well, putting in our courage and heart, and that’s what matters. As my dad says, one team must win, and unfortunately, this time it wasn’t us, but the spirit and heart are always there”.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, September 10, 2023 – Honduras won a long battle against Belize 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 23-25, 25-22, 15-5) to remain undefeated and secure a place on the podium at the XXII AFECAVOL Women’s Senior Central American Cup at the Alexis Arguello Sports Complex.

Honduras secured its fourth victory in over two hours of play, earning 17 points on the standings, ensuring at least the third-place finish.

The last medal won by Honduras in the Central American Cup was in 1995 when they finished in second place. In 1991, they won the gold medal.

Honduras did better in attacks 52-47 and in blocks 10-9 , while Belize was better in serves  10-8. Honduras committed 34 unforced errors, while Belize had 40.

Cecille Johnson was Honduras’ top scorer with 22 points, followed by Ana Gabriela Marcelín with 20. For Belize, Nelissa Ramírez finished with 14 points, and Nissan Martínez scored 13.

Belize will play against El Salvador at 1:30 p.m., while Honduras will face Nicaragua on Monday at 6:00 p.m.

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QUOTES

Cecille Johnson, Honduras’ top scorer: “We are very excited; it’s been years since we won a medal, and today we are very happy. More than 30 years without winning anything, and just thinking about it gives me goosebumps. Today the match was very tough; fatigue and the heat affected us, but we fought for every point to get the victory”.

Bessy Inestrosa, captain of Honduras: “Thanks to God, we managed to secure the medal. It was quite challenging; Belize is an excellent team, but we were able to overcome them. We lost a bit of focus in the game, and some fatigue affected us because several matches have been demanding, and the body takes its toll, but we always have high spirits”.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, September 10, 2023 – Costa Rica had no trouble defeating Panama 3-0 (25-13, 25-10, 25-18) on the fifth day of the XXII AFECAVOL Women’s Senior Central American Cup at the Alexis Arguello Sports Complex.

It was Costa Rica’s fifth consecutive victory, as they took an early lead in each set, thanks to their serving that troubled Panama’s reception and reduced their attack.

Costa Rica led 40-17 in attacks, 4-3 in blocks, and both teams scored 5 service points. Costa Rica scored 26 points from Panama’s errors and gave away 16.

Tamara Rodríguez and Marcela Araya each scored 12 points for Costa Rica, while Hashlyn Cuero scored nine for Panama.

Costa Rica will rest on Monday, and Panama will face Guatemala at 4:00 p.m.

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QUOTES

Pablo Acuña, coach of Costa Rica: “Satisfied with this match, we told the players that it was a match to minimize errors and capitalize on our strengths, and fortunately, they were very focused on that. Now, we have the final push, and we are prepared for that last match”.

María José Castro, libero for Costa Rica: “We are happy; every match is tough, and every team has its strengths, and we must get stronger each time for the goal. We must stay very focused because it can slip away from us by a small margin. We have players from different generations, and we are quite united both on and off the court; we support each other, and together we all play well”.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, September 9, 2023 – Honduras had to push themselves to the limit to overcome Panama 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 28-26) on the fourth day of the XXII AFECAVOL Women’s Central American Cup.

Honduras, with a 3-0 win-loss record started each set coming from behind. In the second set, Honduras bounced back from a 15-20 deficit with an eight-point streak that Panama couldn’t control. Panama couldn’t finish strong, and their opponents capitalized on the experience of their players to win the match.

In the third set, Panama had two set points, but Honduras responded with strong defense and attacks from one of their best players, Ana Gabriela Marcelín, who finished with 17 points, including four blocks, and Cecille Johnson with 10. For Panama, Hashlyn Cuero scored 11 points.

Panama outperformed Honduras in attacks 32-20 and service points 9-7 but was down 3-7 in blocks, however, Panama committed 34 unforced errors compared to Honduras’ 28.

On Sunday, Panama faces Costa Rica at 1:30 p.m., and Honduras takes on Belize at 4:00 p.m.

AFECAVOL COPA MAYOR FEMENINA

QUOTES

Marcos Sugiyama, coach of Honduras: “Panama’s approach is very strong, and we let our guard down, which is something we cannot do. We were playing at a high level of volleyball, and we let our guard down, which caused us many problems. It’s necessary to fight, despite fatigue, and we got the victory. Tomorrow, we face another battle, and the truth is that every day feels like a final. The girls’ reaction today was good because it’s not easy to always play from behind on the scoreboard and come back to win”.

Andrea Zuñiga, libero of Honduras: “I think we came in a bit overconfident; it was noticeable that Panama was eager to win. They played a great game, defending and attacking everything. I think it was a very tough game, and I felt bad at one point due to the heat and pressure, but my teammate came in and did a great job as well. Today’s lesson was not to be overconfident and not underestimate any team”.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, September 9, 2023 – Costa Rica’s national team secured their fourth consecutive victory as after defeating Guatemala 3-0 (25-17, 30-28, 25-19) on Saturday at the XXII AFECAVOL Women’s Central American Cup.

For Guatemala, it was their fourth consecutive defeat, still without any wins, despite putting up a fight in all sets, as seen in the second set where they had three set points. However, Costa Rica managed to finish strong and take the set, which gave them greater confidence heading into the third.

Marcela Araya continues to be a key player for the Costa Rican team, this time scoring 13 points, and Tatiana Sayles added 10. For Guatemala, María García contributed 13 points.

Costa Rica led in attacks 38-30, blocks 8-5, and service points 5-3. Additionally, they benefited from 29 unforced errors by their opponents while committing 26 themselves.

On Sunday, Costa Rica will face Panama at 1:30 p.m., and Guatemala will go up against Nicaragua at 6:30 p.m.

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QUOTES

Pablo Acuña, coach of Costa Rica: “When it’s Central America, it’s a different tournament for Costa Rica. All the opponents prepare to beat us, and we take it as a big challenge. We prepare so that each player is ready to play her role, and today, what I appreciate is that we had a better start than in the previous match”.

Julissa Rodríguez, middle blocker of Costa Rica: “We are super happy, but it’s thanks to the teamwork that both the coaching staff and we have been doing. In reality, we haven’t won anything yet; we still have games to go, and we need to keep working as we have been and show what we know how to do with the goal we’ve set for ourselves”.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, September 8, 2023 – Belize struggled to defeat Panama 3-0 (25-19, 28-26, 25-21) and secure their second victory in the XXII AFECAVOL Women’s Senior Central American Cup.

Panama fought hard in each set but failed to finish strongly, and Belize capitalized on their strong serving and net presence to secure the result, also taking advantage of their opponents’ errors.

Panama led in attacks 42-30 and in serves 7-6, but they committed 37 unforced errors, while Belize committed 15 and led in blocks 5-2.

Nelissa Ramírez was Belize’s top scorer with 11 points, while Hashlyn Cuero scored 12 for Panama.

On Saturday, Panama (0-2) faces Honduras (2-0) at 4:00 p.m., and Belize (2-1) has the day off.

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QUOTES

José Fontes, coach of Belize: “To be honest, I’m not very happy with the game; there are things we need to improve, and today we weren’t very effective. We also gave playing time to some non-regular players; our main setter is injured, and we wanted to see if she was fit to continue in the tournament. We need to keep improving to have more options in the tournament”.

Clara Sabal, libero of Belize: “I feel like we fought hard, and I’m glad that we were able to close the match in the end. We made many minor mistakes between the sets, but I’m glad that our team could come together and finish with the victory. I think we underestimated Panama, and that tends to happen a lot, so it was good that we decided to work hard, and I think our defense and reception were the best”.

Jenny Madrid, coach of Panama: “This is a process in which we go step by step, and we have made progress. We lack preparation and exposure, and as we progress in the tournament, we will improve. Today, we made some adjustments, and they worked; we kept the opponent under control, but in the closings, we couldn’t make the points”.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, September 8, 2023 – Costa Rica had to use its best weapons to defeat El Salvador 3-1 (27-29, 25-18, 25-22, 25-19) and maintain its undefeated record in three matches at the XXII AFECAVOL Women’s Senior Central American Cup.

Led by an effective Marcela Araya with 22 points, Costa Rica bounced back after losing the first set to a resilient Salvadoran team that showed great defense.

For the rest of the match, Araya was joined by Tamara Espinoza and Tatiana Sayles, who scored 14 and 10 points respectively, to lead Costa Rica 54-37 in attacks and 9-3 in blocks, five of them by María Alfaro.

For El Salvador, Gabriela Funes scored 14 points, and María Jiménez Hunter added 10. El Salvador was better in service 6-4 but conceded 35 points on errors, while Costa Rica committed 42.

On Saturday, Costa Rica (3-0) plays against Guatemala (0-3) at 1:30 p.m., and El Salvador (1-2) will face Nicaragua (1-1) at 6:30 p.m.

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QUOTES

Tamara Espinoza, standout player for Costa Rica: “I’m very happy to contribute to my team; we are quite united. All the effort is not luck, it’s not a coincidence; it’s pure determination and effort that we’ve given throughout the year. I hope to keep improving for my team and because of my team. We are fortunate to have several players who, no matter what, will contribute on the court”.

Pablo Acuña, coach of Costa Rica: “The good thing about a team is that we all complement each other, and everyone adds to the team, but it was a very difficult match. El Salvador played very well; they taught us not to enter passively against any opponent. If there was something we had to learn today, it is very clear to us”.

Carmen Chávez, libero of El Salvador: “We always play with our hearts; every game we go in with the expectation of winning it. We put in the effort to obtain each victory, and that leads us to improve our attitude and show determination. We all contribute together, and each one does what we must do on the court. For us, losing 1-3 doesn’t disappoint us that much because Costa Rica is a great rival, and we hadn’t won a set against them in a long time”.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, September 8, 2023 – Honduras secured their second victory of the tournament by defeating Guatemala 3-0 (25-11, 25-23, 25-19) to tart the third day of the XXII AFECAVOL Women’s Senior Central American Cup.

Cecille Johnson led Honduras to victory with 12 points, scoring eight in the first set and four in the second when she had to leave the match due to a knee injury. However, middle blocker Ana Gabriela Marcelín contributed 9 points, and opposite hitter Dazly Durán added eight. For Guatemala, outside hitter María Santa Cruz scored 10 points.

Honduras held the advantage with a 30-26 lead in attacks, 7-4 in blocks, and 5-3 in service, with 33 points from unforced errors by their opponents compared to 20 committed.

On Saturday, Guatemala, that has no wins in three outings, faces Costa Rica at 1:30 p.m., and Honduras takes on Panama at 4:00 p.m.

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QUOTES

Dazly Durán, standout player for Honduras: “We feel excited, euphoric because we have two consecutive victories, and we hope to get into form for the upcoming tough matches. We must improve; we have the toughest games at the end, that’s why these early matches should help us fine-tune our team play. In the third set, we felt a bit discouraged due to Cecille’s (Johnson) injury, but we hope to have her back tomorrow”.

María Alvarez, captain of Guatemala: “Honestly, it has been a quite challenging tournament for us. We don’t know what’s happening; we didn’t expect these results in these matches. We came well-prepared, but I think fear of making mistakes got to us. We’ve been there, we’ve been close to winning sets, but they slipped away from us. We’re still standing, and we must keep going. We trained a lot for this, for a whole year, put in a great effort, the sets are there, but we need that final push”.