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By Bucky Brennan
The Academy Cougars volleyball team survived an early scare and eventually defeated the Harvest Christian Academy Eagles 27-25, 25-17 on Tuesday night at Academy.
Ladera Linn led the Cougars with seven kills, all of which were in the second set, and was all over the back court on defense.
After the game Linn said, “The first set we were kind of shaky, once we focused on teamwork and played with a little energy, we clicked.”
The Eagles and Cougars stayed neck and neck in the first set. Midway through, with the score at 16-13 in Academy’s favor, Cougars middle blocker Dani Sherwin hit a kill off a quick set from setter Stephanie Bordallo. The kill lifted the fans as the Cougars looked to run away with the set at 17-13. The Eagles were not to be outdone though and on the very next play, Eagles middle blocker Namika Collard one-upped her counterpart with a huge block that got Harvest’s bench on their feet. Collard then stepped to the serving line and served two points including an ace to make the score 17-16.
Both teams tried to pull away and close the set, but strong defense and great hitting kept them at each others’ throats. Harvest would eventually take the lead at 23-21 forcing Academy to take a time out. After getting the sideout, Academy’s Raianna Mendiola stepped to the serving line and served two straight aces to make the score 24-23 and give Academy a game point opportunity to close-out the set. However, her next serve caught the net and brought the set to deuce. After Harvest won the first advantage point to go up 25-24, Academy capitalized on three straight errors by the Eagles to win the set 27-25.
As Academy’s offense seemed lacking and the Eagles seemed to swoop on every opportunity in the first set, Academy coaching brought the Cougars in for a huddle to regroup.
Linn said, “We just needed more passion and fire because when we’re energetic and the fire’s there, we execute.”
Led by Linn and a stellar back row defense, the Cougars found their way in the second. After a Harvest error for the first point, the Cougars got to 4-0 off an Eagle error and two aces by Bordallo. Smart play and tough defense guided the Cougars as they eventually went up 10-5, but Harvest again amassed a small comeback and got the score to 10-9. Collard led the Eagles nailing a big kill from the back-row. Linn finally got going and hammered her seven kills which had the Eagles defense scrambling for points. The Cougars found their rhythm midway through the set as Bordallo sent sets to Linn, Sherwin, Mendiola, Gemilie Ilao and Isabel Flores. As the Cougars offense was firing on all cylinders, Academy comfortably closed out the set 25-17.
Linn had seven kills and a dig, Mendiola had three kills, two tips, two digs and two aces.
In the losing effort, Collard had two kills, two aces and three blocks and Maranatha Hennegan had a tip, three kills and an ace.
In other games:
GHS def. GAA 25-10, 25-17
SHS def. GHS 15-25, 25-19, 25-19
JV: SSHS def. St. Thomas 25-23. 18-25, 25-12
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GPS Sports Calendar
February 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for January
1st
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
2nd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
4th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Events for February
6th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
7th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
8th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
9th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL FINALS
Events for February
11th
Events for February
13th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
14th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
15th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
16th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
17th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
18th
World Athletics Cross Country Championships
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for February
19th
SPRINT TRIATHLON, PACIFIC GAMES QUALIFIER
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 2
Events for February
20th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
21st
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
22nd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
23rd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
24th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for February
24th
Events for February
25th
Events for February
27th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for February
28th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

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