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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
February 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for January
1st
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
2nd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
4th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Events for February
6th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
7th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
8th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
9th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL FINALS
Events for February
11th
Events for February
13th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
14th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
15th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
16th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
17th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
18th
World Athletics Cross Country Championships
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for February
19th
SPRINT TRIATHLON, PACIFIC GAMES QUALIFIER
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 2
Events for February
20th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
21st
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
22nd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
23rd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
24th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for February
24th
Events for February
25th
Events for February
27th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for February
28th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

Basketball
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Running/Track
’23 TRACK SEASON OPENS

Basketball
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Volleyball
H.S. BEACH VOLLEYBALL IN FULL SWING
COMING SOON …
- 3rd Quarter Sports