Nicaragua overcomes Guatemala in five sets
CIUDAD QUESADA, Costa Rica, November 19, 2019 - Nicaragua
edged Guatemala 3-2 (20-25, 15-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-10) to
Guatemala, after losing the first two sets, to get their
first victory of the XIII U18 Central American Women's
Volleyball Championship.
For Nicaragua Norma Brenes and Roselyn Tobie carried the
force of the attack, while at times the spreading by setter
Franchesca Medrano also contributed offensively and made a
difference in the key points. Meanwhile, Guatemala divided
the attack between Diana Barillas, Ingrid Almaraz, Naomi
Monney and Andrea Mendizabal, but the Nicaraguan defense was
better at the close of the game and counter attacked with
touches over the block.
Claudia Noguera, coach of Nicaragua: “In the first two sets
we didn't see the team we have been preparing; I told them
that I didn't know them, that they started playing with a
lot of attitude on the court and they started doing it and
we saw the change, everything went well.
They began to play with encouragement and support each
other, Guatemala also had a good defense in the first set
and that took us out of concentration. I am satisfied with
the result, I knew it would be difficult, but I knew that
they have the conditions to win this and other games,
because we want to improve in the ranking since we were
fourth in the previous tournament.”
David Aldana, coach of Guatemala: “We did not know how to
close the game, they are beginner players and the experience
is only won with these tournaments, what it teaches us is
that every time one set is being fought you have to close it
and not allow the other team grow. Nicaragua has always been
like that, a fighter, they knew how to work, they managed
their pressure better and they managed to win the game.”