Honduras tastes victory at NORCECA Championships

GATINEAU, Canada, August 18, 2010 – Honduras earned its first victory at the NORCECA junior men’s volleyball championships on Wednesday defeating first-time participant St. Lucia 25-20, 25-14, 25-15.

Josue Carbajal Vargas led the Honduras attack with 13 points.  Jose Elias Barahona Diaz added eight for the Hondurans who complete the round at 1-2 for third place in pool B.  They will advance to the consolation quarterfinal and battle for seventh place.

“We feel really good and proud of everyone and we dedicate the win to Honduras,” said Vargas.  “Our concentration was the key.  We played very smart and unified.”

“The guys upped their game today and that’s why we won,” said Honduras’ coach Carlos Funez.  “Our reception was excellent and we were able to make excellent plays.”

For St.Lucia they continued to play with great spirit and delivered a particularly strong first set.  They finish the round robin at 0-3.

“It was bit frustrating at times,” said St. Lucia’s 28-year-old head coach Ryan Germain.  “Our blocking elements lacked a lot of composure but our serve and attacks in the middle were definitely there. But the general objective is to come here for the experience and see the level we aspire to get to.  In that situation we win no matter what.”

Many coaches are lauding the play of St. Lucia’s Julian Bissette.

“He is a prolific attacker and blocker,” said Germain.  “He’s young and only been playing for three years so there are areas he needs to improve.  We hope a lot to come out of him and he’ll be a key to our future.”