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By Niko Bulaon

Sanchez’s Kiarra Rojas rises high for a kill down the middle. The Sharks have the best record in the league at 5-0. (photo by Asha Robles)
It was an early-season battle for the top spot in the Taga Division as the top-ranked Sanchez Sharks defeated the second-ranked JFK Islanders in two sets, 25-19, 25-9, Saturday night at the John F. Kennedy gym.
The first set was anyone’s game, as the Sharks and the Islanders fought for the lead, tying at 7-7. An Islanders error got their opponents finding their rhythm: Kiarra Rojas and Kristin Artero kept the Sharks on top. With all-star Kristin Sapp on their side, the Islanders kept their pace behind the Sharks, keeping the score close at 12-10.
As the Islanders hoped to catch up to their opponents, Sharks Shaniah Aguon had other plans, hitting two back-to-back aces, starting a 6-1 run. Seeming Sanchez will be taking the first set, the Islanders fought back: a kill from Sapp sparked her team to push forward. An incredible assist block from Sapp and teammate Alison Bowman kept Sanchez on their feet. Behind Sapp, the Islanders broke the lead to two, 18-16. As the Sharks started to lose focus, Rojas stepped up to get her team going again: Rojas’ two kills and a huge block against Sapp stopped the Islanders small run.
As the excitement of the fans built, so did the motivation of the Sharks: an amazing far corner, one-handed save from Shaira Espino had the fans and their coach on their feet. But a block and an ace from JFK kept the Sharks careful of early celebrations. It wasn’t until an ace from Chanel Catunao gave the Sharks the first set.
“We practice with structure,” said Artero about preparing for tonight’s game. “We work as a team and strategize.”
Coming into the second, the Sharks had the upper hand, landing a quick 8-0 lead behind Artero. The Islanders finally found their focus, adding points onto the board after the Sharks made multiple mistakes. But Artero and Rojas kept their team in the lead despite a couple of errors.
The Sharks took advantage of JFK’s multiple unforced errors after losing Sapp to a minor ankle injury. The Islanders couldn’t find their rhythm as their opponents took the second set with two aces from Zhanissa Mendiola.
The Sharks stay number one in the Taga Division with a record of 5-0. “Hard work,” Artero commented when asked how her team plans to stay undefeated.
Artero led her team with four kills and two aces with the help of Rojas with three kills and two blocks.
OTHER SCORES
Academy def. Notre Dame 18-25, 26-24, 25-22
St. John’s def. Harvest 25-17, 25-21
Okkodo def. St. Paul 25-18, 25-21
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
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GPS Sports Calendar
December 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for November
1st
ISA BOYS SOCCER
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
2nd
IRON LEGENDS THROWDOWN
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
4th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
ISA BOYS SOCCER
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
5th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for December
5th
Events for December
7th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Events for December
9th
40th GRC PLUMERIA ROAD RACE
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for December
10th
TOUR OF GUAM 2023
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
Events for December
11th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for December
12th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
12th
Events for December
14th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER FINALS
Events for December
15th
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for December
16th
3rd GUAM NINJA CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
16th
Events for December
18th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER ALL-ISLAND MEETING
Events for December
19th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
19th
Events for December
23rd
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
ISA HS BASEBALL FINALS
Events for December
23rd
Events for December
24th
Events for December
25th
Events for December
27th
Events for December
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for December
30th

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME

Basketball
3×3 HOOPS REPEAT AS GOLDEN BOYS

Basketball
RAPADAS LEADS WILD COUGAR COMEBACK

Baseball
GUAM HOSTS KIWIS IN U15 BASEBALL

Basketball
SHARKS FEND OFF DOLPHINS IN GIRLS HOOPS

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs