_{Photo: S.Q. Mega Stars – 2024 BDVA 1st Division Female Volleyball Champions}

by William Ysaguirre

BELIZE CITY, Sun. Oct. 27, 2024

The S.Q. Mega Stars women and the Holy Redeemer Credit Union (H.R.C.U.) Eagles men won the Belize District Volleyball Association (BDVA) 1st Division championships held at the St. Catherine Mercy Center auditorium in Belize City on Sunday, October 27.

_{Photo: H.R.C.U. Eagles – 2024 BDVA 1st Division Male Volleyball Champions}

FEMALES

In the Female finals, the Mega Stars dominated the S.E. Lady Jaguars, 3-0. Nelissa Ramirez, Akili Jones and Clara Sabal hammered kills at the net on plays set by Sara Safa, and with Kevanna Sebastian and Zanyah Hall blocking, they took the first set, 25-19.

Shantell Arnold, Herdie Castillo, Rhea Tsai, Abigail Sharp and Erin Sosa rallied the Lady Jaguars’ counterattacks, scoring hits on plays set by Ayana Godfrey, also profiting from the Stars’ errors; but the Stars took the 2nd set, 25-21. Dasialynn Thurton and Hannah Auil reinforced the Jaguars’ attack in the 3rd set, but veterans Sherika Burton and Emma Hoare came off the Star’s bench to prevail, 25-20.

The S.Q. Ultra Stars won a hard fought duel that went the full five sets to prevail, 3-2, over the Belmopan Mystics in the consolation match for 3rd place. Isabelle Swasey, Melanie Palacio, Kimberly Spencer, Zalika Henderson and Dennisa Pineda led the Mystics’ attack, scoring hits on balls set by Ziane Henderson to win the first set, 25-23. Kailey Godfrey, Jaycee Usher, Jamielee Espejo, Kristi Mai and Kijana Rose rallied the Ultras’ counterattack on plays set by Emma Solano to win the next 2 sets, 25-23, 25-15. Danika Gordon reinforced the Mystics’ attack as they took the 4th set, 26-24; but the Ultras’ Lisasany Castillo, Keyana Casimiro and libero Zazil Marin joined the fray to win the 5th set, 16-14.

MALES

The H.R.C.U. Eagles upset the E.A. Warriors to win the men’s championship, 3-1. Michael Barber, Edgar Martinez, Daniel Musa and Francis Thomas led the Warriors’ offensive, hammering kills at the net on plays set by Lawrence Mahler to win the first set, 28-26. Eleazar Mejia and Randall Wainwright, Kerwin Palacio, Lirisi Cayetano and Marlon Salazar led the Eagles’ counterattack, scoring hits on balls set by Richard Vasquez to win the 2nd set, 25-21. Elton Anderson reinforced the Warriors’ defense, but Raluni Bernardez and Francis Usher came off the Eagles bench to take the next 2 sets, 25-22, 25-16, for the championship.

The S.Q. Dragons had to go the full 5 sets to prevail, 3-2, over the Jaguars men in the consolation match for 3rd place. Joseph Carnegie, Eyan Rene, Kamron Garbutt and Kevin Cortez scored hits at the net to win the first set, 25-20, and the 3rd set, 25-20. Kaelen Ingram, Kyron Sutherland, Shane Gentle, Rasheed Gamboa and Arnoldo Peña rallied the Jaguars’ counterattack to win the 2nd set, 25-22. Keith Castillo and Jaylen Manzanero came off the bench as the Jaguars went to extra points to win the 4th set, 28-26. But they had shot their bolt; the Dragons took the 5th set, 15-13.

Belize Volleyball Association president, Allan Sharp presented team trophies and individual trophies to the champions and sub-champions, and a team trophy and individual medals to the 3rd place winners in the awards ceremony at the close of the tournament.