By Asha Marie Robles
“Volleyball is a mental game and if my girls didn’t bring their mental game tonight, we would have lost just like we did against Okkodo”, states Geckos head coach Bobbi Quinata as to why her team came out with the win over the Sanchez Sharks in Tuesday night’s match.
The Geckos, after changing their game plan from a tough loss, defeated the Sharks in a two set match 25-21, 25-19 at their home court to bring their record up to 5-2, which keeps them tied for second place in the Gadao Division with the Notre Dame Royals. With the loss, the Sharks fall to 4-3.
The Geckos struggled to find their pace during the first set as the Sharks kept the small lead majority of the time, however with team work locking in towards the end, the Geckos came out victorious 25-21.
Sharks (23) Kiarra Rojas gets the kill pass a Gecko defender for the kill. (photo by Joey Blas)
The Sharks kept their ground in the beginning giving them a 3-1 lead, but with a hungry Gecko team, couldn’t shake them off their back until senior Zhannissa Mendiola banked in five serves to give the Sharks a whooping 17-13 lead which ended by a kill from Gecko hitter Kayana Leon Guerrero.
The Geckos would then play catch up and take the lead at 19-17 behind Leon Guerrero’s six serves. With that motivation the Geckos were back in the game and finished the first set at 25-21 off of a Shark error.
Coming in to the second set, the Gecko’s were pumped up, taking the lead early on and keeping it until the very end, winning the second set 25-19. Jasmine Almoguera helped the Gecko’s to a 5-0 lead off of several aces. The Sharks closet looks to catching up with the Geckos was at 8-10 but was stopped by a kill from Almoguera.
The Geckos continued to dominate with serves as Leon Guerrero put in seven with the help of kills and tips from Almoguera.
“I was so excited, I felt all the energy and I’m so happy for my team and I’m just really proud of them”, says Almoguera, who led her team in kills. “I’m never honestly really satisfied but I thought they were pretty good. Hitting just gives me the confidence and really builds my confidence more.”
Sharks outside hitter (14) Patience Artero goes up and hits one over the net against GW. (photo by Joey Blas)
The Sharks saw some great hits and blocks by Kiarra Rojas getting a close 18-20 trail but it wasn’t enough to outscore the Geckos as minor mistakes would cost the Sharks more points.
At 20-18, GW’s Samantha Quinata would put her team up to 24-18 with aces and kills. However, it was Sia Duenas who would lock in the win for her team by making a kill to get the last point and end the game at 25-19.
Other Scores
GW def. Sanchez 25-21, 25-19
St. Paul def. GAA 25-17, 25-23
Academy def. JFK 25-15, 22-25, 25-13
Harvest def. Notre Dame 14-25, 25-23, 25-21
St. Thomas def. St. John’s 25-15, 25-13
Academy def. JFK 25-14, 25-17
Okkodo def. Guam High 25-17, 25-10
Harvest def. Notre Dame 23-25, 25-9, 27-25
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
(photo by Joey Blas)
(photo by Joey Blas)
Sharks Tayler Naputi makes a nice save in the first set to keep the rally going for the Sharks. (photo by Joey Blas)
GW (13) Kayana Leon Guerrero was able to get one pass Shark blocker Lianey De Leon Guerrero for the kill. (photo by Joey Blas)
(photo by Joey Blas)
(photo by Joey Blas)
(photo by Joey Blas)
(photo by Joey Blas)
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(AP/Carlos Osorio)
