Belize’s Female U-19 Team Secures Silver Medal
We have been following Belize’s National Under-Nineteen Female Volleyball Team since the start of the Under-Nineteen Female Central American Volleyball Championship inside the Belize City Civic Center. Over the weekend, team Belize walked away with a silver medal after successfully triumphing over team Guatemala. News Five’s Paul Lopez has been present at the games. We bring us the sights, sounds and plays from the weekend games in the following report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Belize’s National Under-nineteen Female Volleyball Team secured the silver medal at the Under-nineteen Female Central American Volleyball Championship held inside the Belize City Civic Center last week. On Friday night, the highly anticipated matchup between Belize and Guatemala unfolded inside a packed Civic Center. The sounds of Garifuna drums were rolling inside the stadium. Belize flags of all different sizes were being waved. Guatemala had a small contingent of supporters, but their presence was seen and heard with every point made by the team. The last time Belize took on Guatemala inside the Civic, Belize lost the match. Here is an overview of the exhilarating match, courtesy Go Live Belize.
The starting whistle is blown and it is Captain Avianka Avila with the first serve of the match. Guatemala secured the first point of the match. Guatemala now up for the serve and that is an ace for Guatemala as they took the lead early in the match. With the game at nine a piece, team Belize serves the ball. It is picked up by Guatemala and a free ball for team Belize. Avila sets Kaleigh Cardinez. Cardinez goes over the top and secures a point for team Belize. Guatemala is up by four points in the first set. The ball is served. Khaya Gordon on the outside sends the ball across, leaving a space wide open at the net. Guatemala takes advantage and secures the point. Team Guatemala would go on to win the first set of the match.
In the second set, team Belize came back with vigor in their hearts. Service for Guatemala, the ball is picked up. Avila with the set to Gordon, she spikes that one into the play area to secure a point for Belize. Nissan Martinez with the serve, Guatemala sets up for the spike and team Belize executes a perfect block to secure yet another point. Team Belize would go on to win the second set. Guatemala won the third set and team Belize dominated Guatemala in the fourth set. So after almost two hours and a half of play time, it was down to the fifth and final set. The sets are played to fifteen points. The energy inside the stadium was still high with fans shouting at the top of their lungs, waving their flags and blowing their horns.
Team Belize started the fifth set on top, securing the first point of the match. Team Guatemala responded with an attack that proved too much for the blockers. Inching to the halfway point of the final set, Gordon with the serve. Guatemala sends it over. Team Belize with the block, but it’s picked up. Zion Henderson loses control of the ball and sends it outside the play area to finish the first half. Down by three points, Avila with the set to Godoy who does not disappoint. Martinez with the serve, the ball goes back to team Belize. Avila sets Gordon. Guatemala reads the trick shot. Avila to Gordon once again and she makes that one count.
Now tied at thirteen, Nisan Martinez with the serve. A block from team Belize and an error by Guatemala gives Belize their fourteenth point in the set. That is game point and the entire stadium is on their feet. Nissan Martinez once again with the serve, the ball is picked up by Martinez. Avila sets Gordon. She goes up and spikes the ball with force into the play area to secure an emotional victory for team Belize.
Paul Lopez
“Avianka congratulations on that win, first of all let’s talk about the momentum of that game. Wow, what was it like for you guys on the court?”
Avianka Avila,
Avianka Avila, Captain, Belize U-19 Female Volleyball Team
“It was very intense and there was a lot of energy, but the reason we won was because we worked hard and the support of the crowd really helped us.”
Paul Lopez
“Would you say that guys underestimated the force that Guatemala would come with?”
Avianka Avila
“No, but I just think we made some mistakes in the first two sets, but then we fixed in and won the game. We just worked really hard and everybody just supported each other in their roles on the court and I think we just worked really well together.”
Paul Lopez
“What does this win mean for you and your team?”
Avianka Avila
“It was pay back.”
Khaya Gordon
Khaya Gordon, Best Attacker & Scorer
“First off, this win this win is payback to me. From last year I wanted this, I wanted to represent Belize. I wanted that win especially, because we are playing against Guatemala. Me and my team have been practicing and working really hard and tonight it was just payback.”
In the seventh and final night of the tournament team Belize took on El Salvador. They overcame El Salvador in the first three sets of the match. Fast forward to the award ceremony, team Belize received three individual awards. Blessed Omamurhe was awarded the Best Blocker of the tournament award of the tournament. Khaya Gordon was awarded the Best Attacker and Best Scorer of the tournaments awards.
Blessed Omamurhe
Blessed Omamurhe, Best Blocker
“I am actually excited. This is my first award. When the award was announced I didn’t know how to feel. I’d just like to thank everybody weh like help me and train me fih become the best blocker.”
Khaya Gordon
“I never got an award before. I always participated in all the Belize tournaments representing Belize, and now I feel so overwhelmed and I am excited about this so yeah.”
Paul Lopez
“What is next for you? I understand you go to college?”
Khaya Gordon,
“Yeah, I am leaving in seven days. I am going to Texas.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
