Three-way tie atop womenâ€™s world championship Norceca-E group

Guatemala captain Aneliesse Burmester starts an attack

Managua, Nicaragua, December 10, 2008 - El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua improved their win-loss records to 2-0 in the FIVB Women’s World Championship Norceca-E second-round group.

On the second day of action in the competition, El Salvador defeated Honduras 25-18, 25-19, 25-22, Guatemala downed Panama 25-20, 25-21, 25-11, and Nicaragua closed the day by beating Belize 25-15, 25-13, 25-10.

The best three placed teams of this phase will move up to the third round tournaments in Cuba and Dominican Republic next year.

Aida Calderon and Ingrid Rivas contributed 12 and 11 points respectively to the triumph of El Salvador, while Denisse Rogel added nine. Honduran Maria Rodriguez scored 10.

Guatemalan Diana Arias was the only player who scored double figures with 12 points in the match against Panama. Blanca Recinos added nine and Susana Alvarado and Ruth Gomez each had eight points.

Jackeline Toruño was the top scorer for Nicaragua against Belize with 10 points and setter Lolette Rodriguez contributed six aces among her eight tallies. Sheryle Thurton had 11 for Belize.

"The serve and blocking was the difference today between these two teams with a rivalry tradition," said El Salvador coach Gerson Ceron.

El Salvador captain Ingrid Rivas added, "The team seemed more compact today and our objective is to win by a margin as big as possible."

Guatemala captain Aneliesse Burmester said, "The first two sets were very close and the difference was our concentration level. We kept the focus and won the key points."

Nicaraguan coach Rene Quintana said, "Our attacks, serves and reception have been consistent and all our offense has been motorized by our setter Lolette Rodriguez. We are not looking for individual awards but for the first place in the competition."