Nicaraguans open Youth Olympic Qualifier with three wins

PUNTA ARENAS, Costa Rica, March 11, 2018 – Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras concluded undefeated the first day of actions at the U19 Central American Female Beach Volleyball Tournament, a qualifying event to the Youth Olympic Games, with the up-for-grabs only ticket to Argentina 2018 to be decided on Sunday.

Anielka Alonso and Lourdes Lugo of Nicaragua claimed three victories with the first one a 2-0 (21-18, 21-16) over Laura Villalobos and Gabriela Funes of El Salvador. They came back to overcome Mya Musa and Ayah Safa of Belize 2-0 (21-19, 21-19) and finished their day with a 2-0 (21-16, 22-20) victory off Costa Rica’s Angela Williams and Camila Villegas.

Meanwhile, Paola Alvarado and María Juárez of Guatemala began their day with an easy 2-0 (21-9, 21-10) over Musa/Safa and triumphed in their second outing prevailing in an emotional match over Costa Ricans Williams/Villegas winning the first set 21-18, losing the second 19-21 and claiming the third 16-14 after erasing a 11-13 deficit.

Honduras with Shanna Rivera and Celine James battled hard before winning against Panama’s Karla Ortiz and Yeilin Hernández 2-1 (21-10, 20-22, 15-8) and then prevailing against El Salvador’s Villalobos and Funes 2-1 (28-26, 20-22, 15-11).

Guatemala and Nicaragua are set to clash on Sunday at 8:00 a.m. while Honduras will meet Belize, Alvarado/Juárez will meet Panama, Honduras and El Salvador, while Nicaragua plays against Panama and Honduras.