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By Regina Shiroma

Zhyerra Delos Reyes sets up Kristin Sapp for another one of her kills in the second set. (photo by Jesse Castro)

The JFK Islanders fell to the Seisen International School Phoenixes Wednesday afternoon at the Charles King gym in the 2012 Far East Volleyball Tournament. Though they took the first set, the Phoenixes were awoken after the Islanders fired back with a thrilling second set win. Nevertheless, Seisen took the three set win 25-16, 27-29, 15-7 to move into the quarterfinals of the championship bracket.

Taking the first set in a dominating fashion, the Phoenixes were in for a run for their money in the second. Islanders’ Kristin Sapp came out firing on all cylinders, acing and laying down kills against her opponents; teammate Amanda Torres did just the same, both utilizing their tough jump serves against the Phoenixes. Sapp and Torres taking to their middle blocker positions fulfilled their rolls, guarding their net from infiltration. However the smart hitting down the line of Seisen’s Nicolette McGuire gave her team some well-earned points. Sapp’s long reach made her an offensive weapon in the middle as she set down seven kills and recorded five aces from the service line in the second set alone. After Sapp’s kill and unforced errors against Seisen, the Guam team was able to take the second set.

The Islanders took the lead early in the third, but error after error, Seisen tied the set at 7-all. Overwhelmed by the recurring errors that put the Islanders down 11-7, Coach Alden Bautista called a timeout to gather his team. Seisen, however wasted no time, using Jade Vaconcellos’s four straight aces to end the set.

Single-elimination playoffs

JFK’s Amanda Torres goes up for a spike while SIS prepares to receive the ball. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Wednesday’s matches

Match 1—Nile C. Kinnick, Japan, def. Faith Academy, Philippines, 25-9, 25-12

Match 2—Kubasaki, Okinawa, def. George Washington, Guam, 25-14, 25-22

Match 3—Academy of Our Lady of Guam def. Kadena, Okinawa, 25-14, 25-14

Match 4—Christian Academy Japan def. Notre Dame, Guam, 25-18, 18-25, 15-8

Match 5—Seisen International, Japan, def. John F. Kennedy, Guam, 25-16, 27-29, 15-7

Match 6—Simon Sanchez, Guam, def. Guam High 25-12, 25-21

Match 7—Seoul American def. Southern, Guam, 21-25, 26-24, 15-9

Match 8—American School In Japan def. Yokota, Japan, 25-19, 25-17

Match 9—George Washington def. Faith 25-9, 25-12

Match 10—Notre Dame def. Kadena 25-27, 27-25, 15-12

Match 11—Guam High def. JFK 25-22, 25-14

Match 12—Southern def. Yokota 26-24, 17-25, 15-10

Thursday’s matches

Match 13—Kinnick vs. Kubasaki, 10:30 a.m.

Match 14—AOLG vs. CAJ, 10:30 a.m.

Match 15—Seisen vs. SSHS, 9 a.m.

Match 16—SAHS vs. ASIJ, 9 a.m.

Seisen’s Nicolette McGuire looks up at the ball as it is returned by a block from JFK Kristin Sapp. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Match 17—GWHS vs. Match 14 loser, 1:30 p.m.

Match 18—Notre Dame vs. Match 13 loser, 1:30 p.m.

Match 19—Guam High vs. Match 15 loser, noon

Match 20—Southern vs. Match 16 loser, noon

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