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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)


Foody’s Fun Facts
Foody’s Fun Facts with Makayla Atoigue
ND Royals Rugby Player Makayla Atoigue lays down her Foody’s Fun Facts and shares her dream vacation spot
GPS Sports Calendar
May 2022
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
- SU
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 1
Events for May
2nd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET #4
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
3rd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL QUARTERFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
5th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
6th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
7th
GPD HOT PURSUIT 5K
MARIANAS OPEN
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for May
9th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET #5
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER All-Star Meeting
IIAAG GIRLS BEACH VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG GIRLS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL FINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
10th
Events for May
12th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL ALL-ISLAND MEETING
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
12th
Events for May
14th
14th JUDICA CRABAO 5K
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
Events for May
16th
ISA TRACK & FIELD ALL-ISLAND MEET
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE All-Star Meeting
Events for May
17th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
18th
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG GIRLS MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Events for May
19th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
20th
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL All-Star Meeting
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
21st
Pre-Memorial Day 13-Miler
GETTING GUAM HEALTHY 5K BUBBLE RUN/HEALTH FAIR
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD All-ISLAND MEET
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE FINALS
ALPHA WARRIOR ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE FINALS
2022 Guam Track & Field National Championships
Events for May
23rd
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
23rd
Events for May
24th
Events for May
26th
Events for May
27th
Events for May
28th
- 30
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Events for May
29th
Events for May
30th

Baseball
NINETE, JR. WINS 2022 BASEBALL MVP

Basketball
WILDCATS WIN MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS HOOPS

Volleyball
TITANS DON’T DROP A SET ALL SEASON

Baseball
NINETE, JR. WINS 2022 BASEBALL MVP

Running/Track
PANTHERS SWEEP ALL-ISLAND TRACK & FIELD MEET
Foody’s Fun Facts
Foody’s Fun Facts with Makayla Atoigue
ND Royals Rugby Player Makayla Atoigue lays down her Foody’s Fun Facts and shares her dream vacation spot
Foody’s Fun Facts
Foody’s Fun Facts with Makayla Atoigue
ND Royals Rugby Player Makayla Atoigue lays down her Foody’s Fun Facts and shares her dream vacation spot
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG & ISA Championships
- YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE KICKOFF June 4
- GSPN Boys Volleyball All-Star Game
- Pacific Mini-Games in Saipan