Belize keeps strong pace against Nicaragua

CIUDAD QUESADA, Costa Rica, November 20, 2019 - Belize reached two wins after defeating Nicaragua (1-1) in straight sets 3-0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-23) to start off the second day of the XIII Volleyball U18 Female Central American Championship.

Belizean captain Gareth Bruce with 22 points was unstoppable, scoring four points with her service and 17 with attacks, and had the support of Khaya Gordon with 10 points and 8 from Olivia Mckenzie.

For Nicaragua, Roselyn Tobie was the best with 9 points, while María José Rivera got 4 points via blocka. Belize made 30 mistakes, while Nicaragua gave 23 points for its mistakes. Belize was better in attack 36-23, in blocking 9-8 and in service 7-2.

José Fontés, coach of Belize: “I am satisfied with the victory, but we still have many deficiencies on the court, the score could be a little more open. The 3-0 result does not reflect what happened on the court, Nicaragua was in the lead, but we were able to get up and that give us more confidence for the complicated game that awaits us against Costa Rica tomorrow.”

Claudia Noguera, coach of Nicaragua: “Belize is a team that has been growing in recent years we have been very strong teams. Some of these girls played the U20, even the U23 and it means that Belize will be a tough opponent, and it already is. With our players I think that we lacked concentration, they failed in easy points, the reception was sometimes complicated, but those are things that we must improve, I think we still have good options.”

Nicaragua will face El Salvador on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. while Belize will play against Costa Rica at 7:30 p.m.