Belize earns second win beating Panama

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, August 11, 2016. - Belize defeated Panama 3-2 (25-20, 21-25, 25-8, 28-30, 15-11) earning their second win at the AFECAVOL Women’s U23 Central American Championship being held at Gimnasio 7 de Diciembre Alfonso Gordillo in Guatemala City.

This was Belize’ fourth match in five sets and their second win in the event. Belize improves their record 2-3 and has eleven points. Panama leaves win-less.

Belize took the initiative from in the first set with a considerable advantage but Panama moved slowly, improving their blocking and scoring on Belize’ errors to win set two. Belize was definitely on a roll as they overwhelmed Panama in set three finishing with enormous advantage. In set four, it seemed like Belize had ran out of fuel as Panama kept the score very close; Panama lost six set points before extending the actions to a tie-break and Belize lost the opportunity of winning missing four match points. Belize hold off Panama’s hitters to win set five.

In numbers, both scored on 42 spikes, Belize held advantage in blocking 10-9 and in serves 9-7. Belize benefited from 53 errors by Panama and committed 36.

Opposite Maurissa Williams led Belize with 17 points, accompanied by outside hitter Sherika Burton with 12 points and middle blocker Shynelle Glenn with 11 points. Middle blocker Yileen Ng was Panama’s top scorer with 17 points and middle blocker Maria Elena Berrocal added 12 points.

Belize (2-3) will face El Salvador (3-2) on Friday.

Coach Jack Reyes of Belize said to be disappointed “we should have won in three sets; we were telling them that it wasn’t easy to play a game like this because we were falling in Panama’s rhythm, the girls weren’t mentally strong. We could have had a chance for a medal earning five points in this match; it would have been a final sprint. Tomorrow we will just try to win”.  

“We lacked attitude in the last set, we lost the motivation. Our errors damaged us a lot, we gave the points away to Belize instead of them working for their own points” said captain Yileen Ng of Panama.