Nicaragua keeps hopes alive prevailing over Belize

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, December 14, 2017. - Nicaragua kept their hopes alive after prevailing in straight sets 26-24, 25-22, 25-16 over Belize in the closing match of day five of the men’s Volleyball tournament of the XI Central American Games Managua 2017.

Hosts Nicaragua had an incredible night stopping their taller opponents’ power recovering from a three point deficit at the end of set one; from there on Belize slowly gave in.

It was a tough clash that puts Nicaragua in the run for a medal with 2-2 win-loss record and 11 points. Belize is win-less with 0-4 record and 3 points.

Nicaragua’s performance was very similar to that of Belize, with slim margin in every skill; with 39-36 in kills, 4-3 in blocks, 4-1 in aces and committing 22 errors in comparison to 29 opponent errors.

Jonny Zeledon with 15 points all on kills, Denis Garcia with 12 points and Jonathan Tuckler with 10 points led Nicaragua’s scorers. On Belize side, Karym Coleman scored a match-high of 17 points and Bryton Codd contributed with 10 points.

On Friday Nicaragua (2-2) will face Guatemala (4-0) and Belize (0-4) meets Honduras (2-2).

Opposite of Nicaragua Denis Garcia: “Yesterday’s rest helped us to recover physically and helped to focus on our last games. We were motivated because we can still win a medal. Our virtue is attacking and counterattacking, we react pretty fast after defending”.

Head coach of Nicaragua Osman Hernández: “Belize is really strong, the last time we faced they beat us. Today’s difference is that we are motivated to perform well at home. We have battled one match at a time, we’ve lost some, but playing well. Today the boys were determined to fight”.