body,td,th { font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; }
Elite amateur women's volleyball is coming back to the City Center on Sunday. It's the Under-19 Female Central American Championship - and Belize will face some stiff competition. Jomarie Lanza visited them today and found a confident team when she visited today:
Belize's U-19 Female Volleyball team, is preparing to host the upcoming Under-19 Female Central American Championship at the Civic Center.
It's the first time this particular championship is being held in Belize and the games start on Sunday July 16th where 7 teams from across Central America will play 6 games each up until July 22nd.
Jose Fuentes, the team coach for Belize says that he has been working with the organization for almost 5 years, and saw significant progress in the last tournament they played in Mexico.
Jose Fuentes, Coach, U19 Female National Team
"So we've been training for the past couple of months as well. This team has been training together for a couple years now and we also recently went to Mexico to play in the tournament that we've gained a lot of experience from. We hope to show that experience and that growth in this tournament."
"They are prepared physically as a team. It's all and if they can continue to communicate and work as a team throughout the course of the tournament because all 8 teams are here to win it, they have prepared as well. So it's all depending on how they communicate on the court and they solve issues."
13 year old Dasialynn Thurton, the team's Libero, told us that a lot of work has gone into the preparation for this Central American Tournament, which will be her first of many to come.
Dasialynn Thurton, Libero
"Well I feel that we have put in many hours into our work because we've done it 6 days a week."
"Two practices per day so I feel that we've put in a lot of training to get to where we are right now, and I feel that if we all come together as a team, communicate and do what we are supposed to on the court then we would be able to win this."
"This is my first Central American tournament at this level so I have been training myself mentally and based on the things that I am not as well as I should be, so for example my passing, i've been working on it which is why i am now Libero."
Team captain and setter, 18 year old Avianka Avila says a successful outing will depend on teamwork and communication. While the girls have mastered the skills, Avila says that winning depends on their ability to communicate amongst themselves, and work together both on and off the court.
Avianka Avila, Captain, Setter
"We've been practicing for this tournament since last year and we went to continental tournament in Mexico as a way of preparation for this tournament as well. We've been practicing for many months."
"Everytime we are on the court we have to remind each other of what is expected from the other team or any plays that we are going to do with each other. We always have to keep talking on the court making sure that we are communicating with the players at the top who are by the net"
"I think the girls have worked really hard and I think that we are going to show how hard we have worked at this tournament. And I hope that we can win a medal."
In 2019 Belize won a silver in this tournament - this time they are going for gold against a very tough field.
Belize will compete in its first game against Panama on Sunday.
Tickets are on sale at the Civic Center Ticket Office for $5 for kids 10 years and under, $10 general for adults, and $20 VIP.
Notably, Belize will play against rival Guatemala next Friday at 7:30.
