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By Kolby Chang
The Academy Cougars wanted to make a statement against the GW Geckos in the IIAAG Girls’ Volleyball League Monday night at the Academy gym.
The Geckos recently handed the Southern High Dolphins, last season’s champions, their first loss of the season so the Cougars’ Ladera Linn said her team was motivated to prove themselves against a formidable opponent. ‘We were hungry to play them,’ Linn said about the Geckos.
In front of a raucous crowd the Cougars knocked off the Geckos 29-27, 25-20 in an exciting, fast-paced game. The Cougars offense was in sync from the start as setters Leah Castro and Mika Jakl displayed some sharp passing that enabled Linn to throw down some powerful kills. ‘We’ve been training throughout the season and we just flow,’ Linn said of her teammates.
The Cougars tied the set at 4-apiece when Erin Wong tipped the ball past the Gecko defense. Linn followed that up with a nice kill to give the home team the lead. The Geckos battled back later in the set and briefly took the lead after Zea Nauta served up three consecutive aces to make the score 15-14. Several plays later, Linn smashed down a kill to even the set at 20 and a tightly contested battle ensued from there.
The Cougars’ Isabel Flores delivered an ace to tie the set 24 but Nauta tipped the ball on the next play to give the Geckos the one-point lead. Cydni Scott responded for the Cougars with a kill to make the score 25-all and Jasie Villanueva scored off of a tip to put the Cougars up by one.
A Cougars’ error on the next play tied the set but Scott hammered down another kill. Dyonni Quitugua tipped the ball for the Geckos to tie the set but two consecutive errors spelled the end of the set for the visitors.
The Geckos opened the second set on fire behind some impressive serving by Nauta and built a 7-0 lead. The Cougars, however, regrouped as Wong sliced into the deficit with back-to-back kills to make the score 8-6 and forced the Geckos to call a timeout.
The Cougars regained the lead later in the set and a thunderous block from Scott made the score 12-9.
The Geckos tried to reestablish a foothold, but crisp passing and good communication by the Cougars kept the visitors at bay until late in the set when the Geckos attempted to rally. Geana Leon Guerrero dished out three consecutive aces and suddenly the Geckos were in striking range with the score 23-20.
The Cougars however, put a halt to that rally as Castro set up Linn for the final two kills of the game.
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GPS Sports Calendar
October 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for September
30th
Events for October
2nd
ISA H.S CROSS COUNTRY
IIAAG M.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for October
3rd
IIAAG GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG M.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for October
3rd
Events for October
5th
ISA H.S CROSS COUNTRY
ISA M.S. CROSS COUNTRY
IIAAG M.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Events for October
6th
IIAAG H.S. CROSS COUNTRY
IIAAG GIRLS VOLLEYBALL QUARTERFINALS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
7th
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
7th
Events for October
9th
ISA H.S CROSS COUNTRY ALL-ISLAND
IIAAG M.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA M.S. BOYS VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for October
12th
ISA M.S. CROSS COUNTRY ALL-ISLAND MEET
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG M.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for October
13th
IIAAG H.S. CROSS COUNTRY ALL-ISLAND MEET
IIAAG GIRLS VOLLEYBALL FINALS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
BRAWL 3
Events for October
14th
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
14th
Events for October
15th
Events for October
17th
MEN’S SOCCER: GUAM V SINGAPORE
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Events for October
17th
Events for October
20th
IIAAG GIRLS VOLLEYBALL ALL-ISLAND MEETING
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
21st
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
21st
Events for October
22nd
Events for October
24th
Events for October
28th
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
29th
I MAS METGOT COMPETITION (GUAM’S STRONGEST MAN & WOMAN)
Events for October
29th

Basketball
FUETSA SNAPS BOMBERS’ 41-GAME WIN STREAK

MMA/Boxing
BRAWL 3 TO PACK A PUNCH WITH LOADED CARD
COMING SOON …
- High school girls volleyball playoffs
- Brawl 3: Oct 13
- Guam’s Strongest Man and Woman Competition October 29