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By Niko Bulaon

Academy Cougars’ Meagan Maratita and Isabel Flores team up to make the save and send the ball over to the Sanchez Sharks. (photo by Jesse Castro)
How do you start the upcoming season right? As the 2013 Shieh Tournament champions.
After three days of games at John F. Kennedy among ten schools, it all came down to one with the Academy Cougars defeating the Sanchez Sharks in three exciting sets, 25-19, 19-25, 25-18.
From the start of the first set, the Sharks came out firing, taking an early 8-1 lead behind Shaniah Aguon and Kristin Artero. The Cougars struggled to get back from miscommunications and multiple errors. It wasn’t long until Cougars Cydni Scott stepped up to get her team going with a tip, frazzling their opponents. Artero fought back with multiple kills, keeping her team slightly ahead of the Cougars, 18-16. As the Sharks seemed to be taking the first set, Scott and teammate Celeste Guarin took the matter into their own hands, ending the first set with two aces from Guarin.
“It’s not going to be easy,” said Cougars Erin Wong about the upcoming season. “But I think my team is capable of getting to the finish like we did today.”
With a first set win, the Cougars came back on the court to take the game, but the Sharks had other plans. With two kills from Artero and an ace from teammate Akiko Naval, the Sharks took another early lead of 2-7. Multiple errors from both teams caused the lead to be cut short to two; a kill from Wong tied the game to 9-9. As the Cougars and Sharks fought for the lead, Aguon and Scott kept their teams on their feet and in the game.
Sharks Kiara Rojas stepped up to give her team a running lead, 22-16, but Wong’s block and kill kept the Sharks at bay. It wasn’t long before the combination of Artero and Rojas got their team the second set win, forcing a third set to be played.
The third started in a different manner; the Cougars took a quick lead of 5-0 behind Wong before the Sharks found their rhythm again. The Cougars soon took advantage of the Sharks’ errors; a mistake by the Sharks got their opponents up by four. But the Sharks didn’t give up easily, sending any ace and kill they could. Unforced errors brought the score to 23-17. A huge block from Scott and an electrifying kill from teammate Ladera Linn ended the game with the Cougars taking the 14th Annual Shieh title.
“Prepare mentally,” replied Wong about preparing for this tournament. “To keep our composure and to play like we do in practice. Our main goal was to see where we were and to see who we were up against and improve from there for the regular season.”
Wong led her team with six kills and four blocks with the help of teammate Scott with two kills and four blocks. In the losing effort, Artero led the Sharks with seven kills.
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Academy Cougars celebrate their three set victory against the Sanchez Sharks. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Sanchez Sharks’ Kristin Artero got the ball past Academy Cougars’ Cyndi Scott for the side out. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Academy Cougars’ Erin Wong defended the net against a sneak play while Sanchez Sharks setter Chanel Catunao sets the ball up for a spike. (photo by Jesse Castro)
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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