
[useful_banner_manager_banner_rotation banners=49 interval=5 width=120 height=600 orderby=rand] |
By Robert Balajadia
The Academy Cougars are steam rolling into the playoffs with their last regular season game ending in blowout fashion over the Southern Dolphins 25-13, 25-15 at the always rocking Cougar gym Tuesday night.
The Dolphins seven game win streak was snapped by a Cougar squad that has dialed way down on the “defending champs” talk and are just intent on executing in the playoffs which are set to commence this Thursday.
“We’re laser focused and doing everything we need to do to be as prepared as we can. We have to play every point and we can’t rely on the other team on committing errors so we have to control the points we can, including good execution on offense,” said head coach Manny Guarin.
Academy battled with Southern in the first set to a 10-8 score before Cyndi Scott took over serving. With Scott at the helm, the Cougars rallied to take a 19-9 lead, scoring nine straight points, including big time kills from Jasie Villanueva to run away with the set. Southern struggled with kills and passes that prevented them from getting back into the game during the first set.
The Cougars then quickly jumped into a 12-5 lead after a kill from Ha’Ani San Nicolas early in the second set, but the Dolphins showed grit by weathering the Cougars to make a small run to trim the big lead.
Dolphins April Talledo got back-to-back kills after two straight Cougar errors to inch back into a 16-12 game. Talledo would then let loose a pretty jump serve that the Cougars could not return to get within 18-15 to keep Southern alive.
Academy then made a momentous play that gave them the final push to end the game.
Dolphins Brittany Quinata got a good hit on the ball which prompted Cougars setter Mya Sanchez to dive and dig the possible kill. Sanchez got a decent lift on it allowing teammate Dawn Makio to bump a perfect pass to San Nicolas who get a strong shot off to the Dolphins front line. Southern dug out the kill, but Cougars’ Blas came storming over the net and with just one shot, she gave the Cougars a definitive 19-13 lead.

Joie Blas of the Cougars blast a spike right past the block of Dolphin, April Talledo. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)
Academy went on to finished the game on a 6-2 run to end the Dolphins night while capturing sole possession of first place in the Gadao Division. The Cougars have turned in an impressive second half of the season though every game from this point on is win or go home.
“We feel like everyone wants to beat us, so there is pressure on us, but that just makes us want to beat them even more,” said Sanchez.
The most dangerous part of the Cougars game is their serving, which was on point against the Dolphins, and that they often play mistake free volleyball. The most important part of their game? They’re winning and they’re all just having fun.
“We have fun when we’re winning so it all just works out!” admitted setter Sanchez. “Tonight was the game to decided where we are in the standings, so we just wanted to win.”
“At the end of the season it really comes down to a lot of mental preparation. I feel like being excited and having that energy after the match is really important,” said Guarin.
Varsity
Academy def. Southern 25-13, 25-15
GW def. Notre Dame 21-25, 25-14, 25-18
Junior Varsity
St. Thomas def. Guam High 25-7, 28-26
Southern at Academy
GW def. Notre Dame in two sets
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Brittany Quinata of the Dolphins airs-out in preparation to spike towards the Cougars. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Dolphins front row blocker, Marlisah Tenorio, misses a spike sent from Cyndi Scott of the Cougars. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Joie Blas of the Cougars rips a spike past Marlisah Tenorio to put the Cougars one point away from winning the match. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)


GPS Sports Calendar
March 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for February
28th
Events for March
2nd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
Events for March
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
ISA GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for March
4th
35th RAINBOWS FOR ALL CHILDREN 3.5 MILER
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE FINALS
Events for March
5th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 3
Events for March
5th
Events for March
6th
Events for March
7th
Events for March
9th
Events for March
11th
GSPN PRESEASON BOYS VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT DAY 1
Bank of Guam Block Party 5K
Events for March
12th
Events for March
13th
Events for March
14th
Events for March
15th
Events for March
17th
World Athletics Indoor Championships
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
18th
PAY-LESS KICK THE FAT 5K/10K
World Athletics Indoor Championships
Events for March
19th
Events for March
21st
Events for March
25th
MARIANAS OPEN PRO JAPAN TOURNAMENT
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
26th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 4
Events for March
28th
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
30th
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
IIAAG GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
31st
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Jiu-Jitsu
ATOS BRINGS BACK 44 MEDALS FROM JAPAN

Volleyball
TIYAN DROPS SET FOR FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS

MMA/Boxing
BENAVENTE BRINGS RARE SKILL TO FIGHT GAME

MMA/Boxing
BENAVENTE BRINGS RARE SKILL TO FIGHT GAME

Volleyball
EAGLES HOLD OFF WARRIORS IN 5 SETS

Jiu-Jitsu
MARIANAS OPEN TO TAKE OVER TOKYO
COMING SOON …
- 4th Quarter Sports
QUICK HITS
——————————————
Guam MTB National Championship: Edward Oingerang and Jennifer Camacho are your 2023 MTB national champions. Oingerang finished the course in 1:13:24 while Camacho won her second straight title in 54:08.