Costa Rica Dominantly Secures First Victory at the U19 Central American Championship

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, December 8, 2024.- After a fiercely contested first set, Costa Rica picked up the pace to defeat Guatemala 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 26-24), claiming their first win at the opening of the XV AFECAVOL U19 Central American Men’s Volleyball Championship.

Guatemala managed to apply pressure in the first and third sets but could not sustain it against Costa Rica, who dominated in blocks with a 15-5 lead and outscored Guatemala in attacks 37-32.

ÁLBUM CRC VS GUA

Guatemala led in service points 7-3, while both teams were evenly matched in unforced errors, each tallying 21.

For Costa Rica, Jeremy Antonio Vanega stood out as the top scorer with 16 points, supported by Ignacio Sánchez with 14 points. On Guatemala’s side, José Samayoa contributed 15 points, while Santiago Mena added 10.

After the match, Costa Rica’s coach, Roberto Quesada, remarked, “We started a bit nervously and made several mistakes in both attacks and touching the net too often. However, it was a very interesting match. We know Guatemala is a strong team, so taking this step is crucial for the goal we have in mind.”

Meanwhile, Guatemala’s coach, Luis Castañeda, commented, “We didn’t want to start with a loss, but that’s what happened. Now we look forward to the next match to improve. There’s a lot to work on, so we need to focus on correcting those aspects.”

On the second day of the U19 Central American Championship, Costa Rica will face Panama, while Guatemala will have a rest day.