BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Nov. 14, 2019– The National Secondary Schools Sports Association (NSSSA) held its annual national high schools volleyball championships (female and male) on Friday and Saturday, November 8-9, in Dangriga, where the 4 regional champions – North, Central, West and South – met in a simple knockout format, with the semifinal winners on Friday going on to play for the championship on Saturday. The Nationals this year were hosted by Delille Academy at the Russell Chiste Garcia Auditorium, and it was both Central Region’s SCA girls and SJC boys emerging as national champions.
SJC Boys – 2019 NSSSA Male Volleyball Champions
Semifinals on Friday
In the first female semifinal on Friday, Western Region champs, Belmopan Comprehensive School (BCS) won in 3 straight sets, 25-11, 25-10, 25-22, over Northern champs, San Pedro High School. And in the other female semifinal, it was Central Region champs, SCA demolishing the Southern Region champs, Julian Cho Technical High School, 25-2, 25-15, 25-13.
Fatima Ramirez (SCA) – MVP and Best Attacker of NSSSA Female Volleyball 2019
The first male semifinal on Friday saw Northern champs, Muffles College gaining a tough 5-set victory over Western champs, Belize Christian Academy, 25-14, 21-25, 25-16, 22-25, 15-9. And in the other male semifinal, Central champs, SJC won in 4 sets, 25-21, 23-25, 27-25, 25-23, over Southern champs, Toledo Community College Scorpions.
Letisha Lamb (SCA) – Best Blocker of NSSSA Female Volleyball 2019
3rd Place & Finals on Saturday
In the female 3rd place game on Saturday morning, Julian Cho Technical won in straight sets, 25-11, 25-13, 25-16, over San Pedro High; and in the championship final, it was SCA securing their 12th straight national championship with a straight sets win over Belmopan Compre girls, 26-24, 25-19, 25-13.
Oscar Castro (SJC) – MVP and Best Setter of NSSSA Male Volleyball 2019
The male 3rd place game went to 5 grueling sets, as Belize Christian Academy prevailed 3-2 over Toledo Community College, 25-20, 14-25, 29-27, 25-27, 15-10; and in the championship final, it was the defending champions, SJC boys winning in 4 sets, 25-15, 22-25, 25-12, 26-24, over Muffles College.
Trophies & awards
The NSSSA Volleyball Nationals were sponsored by SOL Belize Ltd., who provided team trophies and individual medals to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place team members in the awards ceremony following the championship finals.
Gavin Taylor (SJC) – Best Attacker and Best Blocker of NSSSA Male Volleyball 2019
Female Individual Awards were: Best Setter – Iman Safa (SCA); Best Receiver – Mia Sylvester (BCS); Best Server – Zalika Henderson (BCS); Best Blocker – Letisha Lamb (SCA); Best Attacker – Fatima Ramirez (SCA); MVP – Fatima Ramirez (SCA).
Male Individual Awards were: Best Setter – Oscar Castro (SJC); Best Receiver – Tyrel Lucario (SJC); Best Server – Malcolm Murillo (SJC); Best Blocker – Gavin Taylor (SJC); Best Attacker – Gavin Taylor (SJC); and MVP – Oscar Castro (SJC).
Belmopan Comprehensive School Girls – 2019 NSSSA Female Volleyball Sub-Champions
CODICADER Games
NSSSA 2019 Volleyball Champions, St. Catherine Academy Girls Volleyball Team, and St. John’s College Boys Volleyball Team will both represent Belize at the next CODICADER Games to be held in El Salvador in September 2020.
Muffles College Boys – 2019 NSSSA Male Volleyball Sub-Champions
(Information and pictures courtesy William Ysaguirre)
Feature photo: SCA Girls – 2019 NSSSA Female Volleyball Champions