The San Pedro High School (SPHS) Sharks won fourth place at National Secondary Schools Sports Association’s (NSSSA) volleyball championships hosted by Delille Academy at the Russell “Chiste” Garcia Sports Complex in Dangriga over the weekend.
The SPHS Sharks had qualified to the nationals as the Northern regional champion, but in Game three in the third-place consolation match on Saturday morning, the Sharks fell 0-3 to the Southern regional champs, the Julian Cho Technical High School girls. Aaliyah Leiva led the Sharks’ attack hammering five kills at the net on plays set by Caroline Sersland. Vatranny Perez hammered four kills and served an ace, and Dennisa Mairena and Normalee Gomez each scored two hits. Babee Emmaz Lopez and Caroline Sersland each scored a hit and served an ace, and Jasmine Geronimo scored a hit. The Sharks also gained 17 points from JCTHS’ five service faults and 12 errors.
JCTHS’ Devyne Lopez scored four hits on plays set by Ofelia Pop, also serving three aces. Kiara Quiñonez served six aces and spiked home a point, and Naica Galvez scored two hits and served an ace. Nyah Recinos scored a hit, Daisy Maas tricked the ball over the net, and Ofelia Pop served an ace to win:25-11, 25-13, 25-16. They also gained 55pts from the Sharks’ seven service faults and 48 errors.
The Sharks had fared no better in the opening game of the tournament on Friday afternoon, when they lost 0-3 to the Western regional champs, the Belmopan Comprehensive School girls. BCS’ Zalika Henderson and Mia Sylvestre hammered hits at the net on plays set by Indya Gordon, and Alexandra Avila, Jaslyn Usher, Jahsmin Bennett, Darika Gordon, and Xhania Dubon helped receive and volley the ball to win: 25-11, 25-10, 25-22.
In Game Two on Friday evening, the 12-times NSSSA champions – the St. Catherine’s Academy girls dominated JCTHS: 25-2, 25-15, 25-13.
In Game Four, the championship final Saturday afternoon, SCA relegated the Belmopan Compre girls: 26-24, 25-19, 25-13.
Delille Academy’s principal Dina Franco presented team trophies and individual medals sponsored by SOL Belize Ltd to the first, second, and third-place winners. SPHS team captain Caroline Sersland received the fourth-place trophy at the awards ceremony after the finals.
Individual awards:
Best Setter – Iman Safa – SCA.
Best Receiver – Mia Sylvester – Compre
Best Server – Zalika Henderson – Compre
Best Blocker – Latisha Lamb – SCA.
Best Attacker – Fatima Ramirez – SCA.
Most Valuable Player – Fatima Ramirez.
The St Catherine Academy volleyball girls will be representing the Jewel once again at the 19th CODICADER Central American Junior Student Games hosted by El Salvador in September 2020.
In the male competition, the St. John’s College Wildcats repeat as NSSSA volleyball champs, while the Northern regional champs, the Muffles College Bobcats, took second place. The Western Zone champs, the Belize Christian Academy Eagles, made their NSSSA debut by winning the third-place consolation match on Saturday morning: 25-20, 14-25, 29-27, 25-27 and 15-10 against the Southern regional champs, the Toledo Community College Scorpions.
 Sharks won fourth place at National Secondary Schools Sports Association’s (NSSSA) volleyball championships.){kind=link}