With only 2 days left in the 5 day tournament, Belize's female national volleyball team has not failed to deliver: they've given fans two dominant back to back wins.
But, the ladies have their hearts set on the gold this year, and so we stopped by at today's practice to see what their progress and preparation is looking like as they head into their two final games. Jomarie Lanza Reports.
The girls are definitely showing out and not slowing down anytime soon in this year's U21 Women's Central American Volleyball Championship. Last night's game against Honduras, an intense 3 set match, had everyone in the building on the edge of their seats. The President of the volleyball association says the girl's performance level is at its peak.
Allan Sharp, President, Volleyball Association
"Well it's been great, the girls are playing very high-level right now. They are playing very well. They are peaking. We won against Nicaragua, Nicaragua was a major match, a major hurdle, the champion of the recent U 23 of which more than half of the team came here on this team. A lot of our girls came from the U23 but it shows what happens when you play at home and you have the fans behind you. We had a good crowd that night. Last night we played against Honduras and kind of won easily but still the girls played very well. There was no letdown. The girls played at a high-level so I think they are ready as long as they keep holding this level of playing. It is going to go very well and of course it goes well when the fans are here. So we are hoping that the fans will keep coming out. They play a part. They are a part of the team Belize and we need them to do their part like everybody has their part on the team."
Though there is no telling what direction each game will take, the minute those girls walk onto that Volleyball Court, Sharp says it is important to remain optimistic and make use of everyone's strengths and talents.
Allan Sharp, President, Volleyball Association
"Obviously from game to game the coach will have a different strategy. There is never a team that is 100%, and 100% of the players are playing at the percent level they are always considered, like different ailments and some just sometimes it's just not your night but being a team player you have to take on your different roles. Maybe if you're not attacking great you can pass or you can defend great, you can serve great or maybe if you are not serving great so there are things that you can do but I think the girls are doing excellent. I mean you have to remember that this is also, a lot of these girls are from the U19 from last year and played here that Silvered and so they have stayed together They have kept training and here they are they are going to be putting on a good show again and I think we are in a position to do very well."
And the girls of course do agree, after 2 three set sweeps against Nicaragua, and then Honduras, they have gained confidence for their next two games against El Salvador tomorrow and Guatemala on Saturday:
Gareth Bruce, Captain, U21 National Team
"It was just amazing and an emotional feeling as well. We were just energized by the crowd and happy having fun."
"In both games we kind of had high and low points where we couldn't get out from certain rotations where everything was not going our way for both games and we just had to fight back, refocus and get it right again."
Blessed Omamurhe, Blocker, U21 National Team
"The tournament so far is going well. The experience is like the same thing each and every single year so yeah."
"This is like the fourth year I've been playing with them so it's not new we've all been playing together."
Reporter:
"Any particular game you are looking forward to?"
Blessed Omamurhe, Blocker, U21 National Team
"It was Nicaragua but that was the first one and now it is over so another one would be Guatemala."
Belize will play El Salvador at 8:00 on Friday night.
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