Honduras plays another to five set match

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, August 31, 2015.-Honduras prevailed over Nicaragua in five sets (23-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-19, 19-17) in day four at the Men’s U-21 XVI Central American Championship.

This is Honduras’ third five setter and their second win coming from behind to stand with a 2-2 win-loss record and 8 points. Nicaragua (1-2) suffers a second loss and has 9 points.

Honduras started off with energy and with an early lead that didn’t last long. Nicaragua was more consistent while Honduras was disorganized, mostly in defense. Nicaragua held a five point advantage which they lost because of their errors but won the set 25-23.

The second set began just the same, Honduras in control and a five point advantage that Nicaragua turned around with powerful kills and good defense; they won again 25-23. Nicaragua started on top the third set but Honduras recovered fast to have a seven point advantage 17-10; Honduras got back in the game closing 25-21.

Nicaragua regained control in the fourth, they even were up 16-11; Honduras once again recovered while Nicaragua lost energy; Honduras extended the match to a tie-break winning 25-19. Honduras was inspired in the fifth, everything went well, they held a seven point advantage 10-3 but Nicaragua kept on pushing; with great effort Honduras won 19-17 not before missing three match points.

The stats were similar, Nicaragua held advantage in kills (49-43), while Honduras topped serves (6-5) and blocks (11-8). Honduras scored on 55 Nicaraguan errors while committing 45.

Honduras’ offensive line was led by Outside Hitters Esdras Panchame with 13 points and Abner Funez with 11; Nicaragua by Opposite Denis Garcia with 15 points and Outside Hitter Victor Fonseca with 11.

Alejandro Ávila captain of Honduras said “it was hard to concentrated, we had too many errors over the net and Nicaragua didn’t have as much. I think we performed better when our passing improved”.

Gabriel Barrios Nicaragua’s captain said “I congratulate Honduras, they are fighters like us, neither of us gives up and today it showed”.

Coach Marvin Ulloa of Honduras was happy with the victory “it was an even game; the win could have gone either way. My players lose energy for moments and then they recover, they worry too much about the other team and they must think about our side”.

Coach Osman Hernandez of Nicaragua indicated “my boy lost concentration and Honduras took good advantage of the situation. Our receiving performed well, but from the third set forward they thought they have already won and this was the key in our loss”.