COUGARS TOPPLE DOLPHINS

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By Kolby Chang

Cougars’ Cydni Scott dinks the ball towards an opening in the Dolphins defense. (photo by Jesse Castro)

The AOLG Cougars are riding high in the IIAAG of Guam Girls’ Volleyball League with another victory over a top ranked opponent. The Cougars avenged an early season loss by dismissing the Southern Dolphins 25-21, 31-33, 25-6 in a tightly fought contest at the Southern gym on Tuesday night.

After stumbling in the second set, the Cougars came out with a renewed sense of urgency and took the Dolphins to the cleaners in the final stanza. The Cougars’ Erin Wong said her teams desire to win was palpable because of the previous defeat to the defending champion Dolphins.

Wong attributed the win to some soundly advice from their coach. ‘My coach motivated us by saying who wants it more and we really wanted it so we decided to show it on the court,’ Wong said.

McDonald’s Player of the Game Cougars’ Erin Wong. (photo by Jesse Castro)

The visitors appeared to have the Dolphins against the ropes from the start of the game but the home team rallied and had the crowd cheering each point in a memorable second set. With the Cougars up 24-20 it seemed inevitable that the Dolphins were doomed but three consecutive errors by the visitors breathed life into the Southern squad.

Now only up by one the Cougars called for time to settle themselves but the Dolphins Zoe Surber served up an ace immediately afterward to tie the set. The teams exchanged errors and the Cougars were up by one again until the Dolphins’ Ciera Aguon scored with an ace. The home crowd was screaming feverishly anticipating the comeback but the Cougars’ Cydni Scott had a thunderous block to tie the set again.

Several plays later the Cougars committed an error to make it 30-all. April Talledo fired off an ace to put the Dolphins up by one but Wong responded with a nice kill to knot it at 31. The visitors made an error on the next play and Brittany Quinata sealed the set for the Dolphins with a kill.

SSensing the home team was on the verge of stealing the momentum, the Cougars came out strong and built a sizable 16-4 lead in the third set following a kill by Scott. Wong then put her stamp on the game with two kills and a block down the stretch to ensure a Cougars victory.

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Dolphins defenders Tianna Sakaba and Brittany Quinata watches as the ball starts falling to their side shortly after being spiked by Cougars’ Erin Wong. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Dolphins’ Tianna Sakaba spikes the ball while Cougars’ blocker Cydni Scott positions to defend her side. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Dolphins’ Brittany Quinata comes down on the ball as she spikes over to the Cougars side, while Cougars’ Cydni Scott defends the net. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Dolphins’ Zoe Surber defends the back court as she sends the ball to her teams setter. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Dolphins’ Tianna Sakaba defends the backcourt as she bumps the ball on the first hit. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Cougars’ Gemilie Ilao scoops up a bad pass as it bounces back from the net that she sends over as a free ball. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Fans of the Southern Dolphins girls volleyball team rallied for their team as they fought to stay in the game during the second set. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Cougars’ Celeste Guarin serves the ball to the Dolphins. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Cougars’ Leah Castro jousts with a Dolphins defender and attempts to force the ball to the Dolphins side. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Dolphins’ Brittany Quinata serves the ball to the Cougars. (photo by Jesse Castro)

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