Straight-set win for Guatemala over El Salvador

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, December 9, 2014 – Defending champions Guatemala obtained a three set win of 25-14, 25-23, 25-21 over El Salvador at the opening match of day five of competitions at the XVIII Men’s Central American Cup.

Guatemala managed an effortless win in the first set, but things turned around in the last two sets as El Salvador put up resistance. The win keeps Guatemala in a position to battle for the gold medal of the event, with a 3-1 win-loss record and fourteen points.

Guatemala’s huge advantage in kills by 41-25 was enough to dominate El Salvador. Guatemala also led with a minor difference in blocking (9-8) and serves (6-4), while committing more errors (21) than El Salvador (19).

Top scorers for the winners were opposite players Luis Garcia and Moises Reyes with 15 points apiece, followed by middle blocker Andy Leonardo with 11 points. Outside hitters Franklin Flores and Francisco Hernandez led El Salvador with 19 and 10 points respectively.

Guatemala’s captain, Andy Leonardo expressed: “We were looking for a straight set victory and despite obtaining it, the team has its hopes down, we must continue to fight for a medal and even if the Gold Medal is difficult to reach, there’s still a chance and that’s what we must keep on working for”.

“We never stopped fighting, the scores were very close in the last two sets but in the end we lost energy in key points,” said captain Francisco Hernandez of El Salvador.