By Robert Balajadia

The Sanchez Sharks have a perfect (6-0) record at home though they have not won a game on the road all season long (0-5) with their latest loss coming at the hands of a dangerous ND Royals squad 25-21, 25-16 at the Royals gym Friday night.

With both teams aiming to move up in their divisions, Friday night’s game weighed heavy seeding purposes.

A good serving of Destiny Castro was expected, but the rest of the Royals proved just how dangerous their entire team is, coming out strong in both sets to get the big win.

“We did take a hard loss recently against Okoddo and we knew that it would drop us down in our standings so we took the next few days of practice like we were preparing for a championship game,” admitted Royals Sheri Stanley . “Tonight’s game was a total eye opener for us because we know what were capable of doing and all we have to do is put work into the game.”

Royals’ Muneka Taisipic soars in for a first set kill. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Castro let loose for a solid kill, attacking Sharks’ libero Kiara Camacho for a 10-8 lead. Camacho did respond by digging two of the Royals kill attempts where her teammates able to stuff a Royal run, though still down 15-11.

Midway through the set, Royals middle blocker Kristi Stone challenged Sharks star blocker Kiarra Rojas at the center of the court with Stone grabbing the big block to put ND up 22-16. The play even inspired head coach Mike Rabago to stand up and give Stone a high five.

ND went up 24-18 before the Sharks made a small comeback to get within 24-21. Then Royals middle blocker Sheri Stanley put the set away with a big block up the middle to get ND the 25-21 win.

“I was able to step up my game alot tonight because of my teamates motivating me and just having my coaches be there giving me good feedback and I just felt that my coaches have done alot for me and my team and we knew that we owe them not only a great outcome of a game but for us to take a spot in the championship round,” said Stanley on what fueled her big plays.

The second set seemed to belong to the Royals from the start after quickly going up 6-3 forcing Sharks head coach Art Stanley to call for time to try and slow down action.

Castro then let loose for a big kill to go up 10-5 while attacking the back line of the Sharks defense. Teammate Demie Brennan then put the Royals up 17-8 with a kill from the outside with ND beginning to run away with it.

A kill from Royals Muneka Taisipic and final block by Stanley put the Sharks away advancing the Royals to (6-4) while the Sharks drop to (6-5)

Sharks middle blocker Kiarra Rojas gives her team a first set lead. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Varsity

Southern def. St John’s 21-25, 25-20, 26-24
Academy def. St. Paul 25-17, 25-22
GW def. JFK 25-9, 25-20
Harvest def. Guam High 24-26, 25-9, 25-12

Junior Varsity 

Southern def. St. John’s 13-25, 25-12, 25-23.
Academy def. St. Paul 25-12, 25-12
GW def. JFK 25-14, 25-10
St. Thomas def. Okkodo 25-18, 20-25, 26-24
Guam High def. Harvest 26-24, 13-25, 25-13

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

The Royals gather around to celebrate Sheri Stanley’s set winning block. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

ND Royals setter Paris Blas gets a clean look at a set. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Sharks libero Kiara Camacho digs a Royal kill attempt. (photo by Robert Balajadia)