Belize Female National Volleyball Team stirring up storm in Honduras

The Belize Female Junior National Volleyball Team is stirring up a storm in Honduras, where it is representing Belize in the U-18 Central American Championship. Held in San Rosa de Copan, Honduras, the team has faced the host country, as well as El Salvador and smashed the competition. But, there are still several other games later this week against regional powerhouses Nicaragua, Guatemala and Costa Rica. Belize faces Nicaragua today, but according to President of the Belize Volleyball Association, Alan Sharp, the team is motivated and ready to win the tournament.

Alan Sharp, President, Belize Volleyball Association

“Yes they are making us very proud. The team played its opening game against host Honduras and I think we pulled off the shock of the tournament in fact that was the press release coming out of Honduras because we beat them three-zero and they are the host country. They brought out the big crowd. But we won three-zero.  Last night we won again. We beat El Salvador who played much stronger, but we still won. We won the first two sets, lost the third set but came back to win the fourth set. So we won three sets to one. So that’s where we are today. We still have a few matches left to go. 

Alan Sharp

We play against Nicaragua today. Nicaragua is one of the three teams that normally are the top in Central America—they have a very strong program. But we have a good chance of beating Nicaragua. If you look at the statistics coming out, both teams are strong, but we have a lot going for us. The girls have been training for some time. Miss Lupita Quan has done an excellent job with girls.  We started this program; she taking the big lead, in 2009 and that’s where we started a junior team. In 2011, we had a U-team and Junior Team go out. So a lot of these girls that are coming along are from the U-team of two years ago, have been training consistently through that time; have been preparing. Of course we have a lot of challenges here in Belize…playing in enough tournaments is one; having a place to practice is another…working with the schools; luckily this one falls within summer. So we do have challenges as compared to what the other countries have, but we are doing exceptionally well especially considering what we have to go through. I am very proud of the coaching staff and the girls. And I must say that Belize, the reason you see this happening now is because of the fruits of the club teams and the national team girls practicing and playing for so long. And this is what it takes to get to even this level.”

The team plays against Nicaragua today at five p.m. Nicaragua, along with Guatemala and Costa Rica are said to be the powerhouses in the region for female volleyball. Belize faces off with those teams last. The overall winner automatically qualifies for the Continental Champions. The sub-champion then has an opportunity, depending on the performance of other teams within the continent.