El Salvador downs Guatemala 3-2

BELIZE CITY, August 5, 2018 - El Salvador dominated Guatemala in a hard fought duel that went the full 5 sets: 3-2 (31-33, 20-25, 25-16, 25-19, 15-11) to win the fifth match of the 20^th Central American women’s volleyball championship at the Civic Center in Belize City.

The Salvadorans were undaunted, even when Guatemala won the first two sets. They recovered to take the third and fourth sets, and clinched the win in the fifth set. They had the advantage on kills at the net: 64-59, and won 40 points by their opponents’ errors, though they conceded 28 points through errors.

Outside hitter Kathya Vasquez top-scored for El Salvador with 20 points: 16 spikes, 2 blocks, and serving 2 aces. Outside hitters Adriana Flores and Gabriela Funes scored 15 and 14 points respectively, while the opposite Denisse Rogel added 11 points.

Guatemala dominated the first two sets, with an advantage on blocking: 8-7,  and serving aces: 9-5. Middle blocker Astrid González led with 20 points, including: 14 kills and 4 blocks while the other middle blocker Aury Alvarez scored 15 points,  including 14 spikes. Opposite María García scored 14 points, and outside hitter Ada Villalobos added 12 points.

El Salvador’s coach Ingrid Rivas explained: “We knew Guatemala was a tough team to beat, we prepared for that. Great plays on both side, very good defense, very good spiking range also, by both teams. But God is good, and Salvador was able to apply some tactics we had prepared, and it gave us the win.

Adriana Flores enthused, “I believe all of my teammates did their best. Our service was our weapon, everyone knew how to place their serves, and we knew how to score on defense: the reception and the set for the kill.”

Guatemala’s coach William Fernández Pizot congratulated the Salvadorans, because, “they never gave up, even when we had the victory in our grasp for a moment. But we fought on, trailing without believing in the win, and they played on. Our outside hitters did not have the same effect, we had no answer to their outside hitters. Hats off to El Salvador’s coach!”

Ada Villalobos admitted: “We have to congratulate the opponent, because they played heart and soul, and left it all on the court! Our outside hitters were not on target, and we needed to adjust our blocking. But the tournament is not over, we have more games, and we will play to win.”