Connect with us

GSPN

RAIDERS ROLL OVER PERFECT KNIGHTS

The St. John’s Knights girls volleyball undefeated streak came to an exciting end as the St. Anthony Raiders handed the Knights their first loss of the season Thursday evening in two sets at the Raider gym in Tamuning in a middle school volleyball action.

By Robert Balajadia

The St. John’s Knights girls volleyball undefeated streak came to an exciting end as the St. Anthony Raiders handed the Knights their first loss of the season Thursday evening in just two sets 25-19, 25-23 at the Raider gym in Tamuning in middle school volleyball action.

The Raiders (6-1) have now tied for first place with the Knights, who drop to (7-1).

Though pressure for the Raiders was admitted to be at an all-time high, nothing felt better to Nicole Gandaoli and her team than when she served an ace to seal the victory after the Knights battled from 12 points down to eventually tie the game in the second set.

“It felt really great, because it made up for when I messed up,” said Gandaoli on the winning point. “We were very nervous because we really just want to win the championship and we played with all our hearts.”

St. Anthony got a big lift off the bench to start the second set with strong serves from Therese Fegurgur, jumping out to a 7-2 lead. The Knights briefly ended the Raider run, but Isabel Itliong-Cruz and Gandaoli each handed the Knights a pair of aces as St. Anthony rolled on to a 16-5 lead.

St Anthony Jacqueline Martinez passes the ball to her setter in the first set. (photo by Joey Blas)

St. Anthony’s Jacqueline Martinez passes the ball to her setter in the first set. (photo by Joey Blas)

The Knights were then hit with a formation penalty to give the Raiders their 17th point, 17-5, when coach Chris Shepherd took a timeout to recollect his girls.

St. John’s responded in the biggest way possible as they chipped away at the large Raider lead, led by Hana Fernandez and Elizabeth Errett, to get within 19-12. Itliong-Cruz got a kill to go up 20-12 with the Raiders aiming to close out the game.

Errors by the Raiders allowed the Knights to score five straight points to get within 20-17 with the Knights fans cheering on their comeback effort. Fernandez served her team back into just a one-point game 21-20, but errors allowed the Raiders to get a 23-20 lead.

The Knights served the game into a tie at 23 until an error and an ace by Gandaoli ended the Knights perfect run.

Itliong-Cruz was instrumental all game by keeping the Knights at bay, scoring points that broke the Knights runs in the wild second set.

“We just put trust in each other, we’re one team and one family and we don’t blame one another for anything. This was a really big game, fighting for first place, but now that it’s over we can relax a little bit,” said Itliong-Cruz.

Raiders thank the parents for watching a good game as they go on to defeat St. John's in two sets. (photo by Joey Blas)

Raiders thank the parents for watching a good game as they go on to defeat St. John’s in two sets. (photo by Joey Blas)

Rayven Benavente led the charge in the first set after a kill, followed by an ace, that gave the Raiders a 15-7 lead. Both teams would trade points back and forth until the Raiders made a momentum swinging play that helped them close out the first set.

Hallie Wigsten appeared to have a kill on hand until Raiders Kirsten Silva and Jackie Martinez made the save of the game as they both went out of bounds to save a seemingly dead ball that got the crowd on their feet, giving the Raiders a 20-16 lead after the Knights struggled to get the ball back over. Itliong-Cruz served the final point in the set to win it 25-19.

The Raiders now have one final game against the Santa Barbara Spartans next Tuesday where a win will secure, at least, a tie for first place.

PHOTO GALLERY:

Raiders Nicole Gandaoli makes a nice set to team mate for the kill. (photo by Joey Blas)

Raiders Nicole Gandaoli makes a nice set to team mate for the kill. (photo by Joey Blas)

St John's Hallie Wigsten jumps and makes a nice hit to find a gap for the side out. (photo by Joey Blas)

St John’s Hallie Wigsten jumps and makes a nice hit to find a gap for the side out. (photo by Joey Blas)

St. John's Hana Fernandez serves against St Anthony in the first set. (photo by Joey Blas)

St. John’s Hana Fernandez serves against St Anthony in the first set. (photo by Joey Blas)

St. John's Hallie Wigsten makes a nice save in the middle to end the Raiders rally. (photo by Joey Blas)

St. John’s Hallie Wigsten makes a nice save in the middle to end the Raiders rally. (photo by Joey Blas)

Ad

GPS Sports Calendar

June

July 2025

August
SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
Events for June

1st

Events for July

2nd

Events for July

3rd

Events for July

4th

Events for July

5th

6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Events for July

6th

Events for July

7th

Events for July

8th

Events for July

9th

Events for July

10th

Events for July

11th

Events for July

11th

No Events
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Events for July

12th

No Events
Events for July

13th

No Events
Events for July

14th

No Events
Events for July

15th

No Events
Events for July

16th

No Events
Events for July

17th

No Events
Events for July

18th

No Events
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Events for July

19th

No Events
Events for July

20th

No Events
Events for July

21st

No Events
Events for July

22nd

No Events
Events for July

23rd

No Events
Events for July

24th

No Events
Events for July

25th

No Events
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
Events for July

26th

No Events
Events for July

27th

No Events
Events for July

28th

No Events
Events for July

29th

No Events
Events for July

30th

No Events

COMING SOON …

FD Alumni Basketball Tournament Playoffs

 

QUICK HITS

Guam’s Jeremiah Camacho shot a perfect game at the 48th Hong Kong Open. The 22-year-old Guam National Team Member shot his 18th career perfect game on lanes 1 and 2 at Top Bowl Lanes in Hong Kong.
————————————————–
Guam’s athletes performed well in the Spartan Race in Capas Tarlac, Philippines, picking up two division wins and two 2nd place finishes.
Belen Sidell 43 yrs (1st)
Phil Law 58 yrs (1st)
Tess Esma 48 yrs (2nd)
James Sardea 55 yrs (2nd)
Charles Esma 18 yrs (12th)

More in GSPN