By Asha Robles

High School Girls Volleyball teams from around the island packed the JFK gymnasium Saturday to take part in the 15th Annual Shieh/GDOE Volleyball Tournament.

Southern Edge Knights

In a match between the Southern High Dolphins and St. John’s Knights, the Dolphins won both sets as they were the team who showed up to play volleyball. With few errors, good passing, and great teamwork, the Dolphins defeated the Knights 21-9 in the first set and 21-13 in the second.

The Dolphins started off strong behind April Talledo’s powerful serve, which gave her team an easy 7-0 lead. The Knights’ Kristina Folta would end the Dolphins streak with a kill, giving her team their first point but despite the Knights’ efforts, the Dolphins kept the lead throughout the half as they were the team with fewer mistakes ending the 1st half at 21-9.

Both teams entered the second half pumped up as the first few plays were long volleys. During the longest volley of the match, the Dolphins would be the ones to win the round and set the pace for their team at 2-1. From there on out the Dolphins would continue to take the lead behind powerful serves bringing them to an 8-4 lead.

A few good kills by the Knights’ Folta would put the score at 12-6, but as the Dolphins continued to bring their ‘A’ game, there was no stopping the Southern school from dominating from there in out keeping the lead ending the 2nd half with the win at 21-13.

Panthers Defeat Royals

In another match from today’s pool play, the ND Royals battles it out against the Guam High Panthers, both teams walked away with one win each as they split the game. ND took the first set 21-16 and the Panthers grabbed the second 21-16.

Both teams started off slow, trying to find their rhythm as they both would lose points to minor mistakes. It was the ND Royals who would mesh together first, take the lead, and stay there until the very end of the first half. The Panthers saw a few great spikes and digs by Kayla Blend, but her efforts were not bough to put her team in the lead. With numerous aces by Taylor Paulino and Caley Chargualaf, the Royals ended the 1st half at 21-16.

The 2nd half was in favor of the Panthers as they came together as a team and beat the Royals 21-16. Both teams started out strong making aces, good digs, and serves. The Panthers stayed in the lead majority of the time behind Blend’s kills and teammate Harmony Yatar’s aces.

Though the Royals had a few good hits, their efforts weren’t enough to take the lead from the Panthers. To end the game and secure the win, the Panthers’ Victoria Miller made sure her serve would be nearly impossible to dig as it hit the floor on Royal territory.

Standings heading into Sunday

Pool A

Academy 9-0
Sanchez 5-3
Guam High 3-5
ND 2-6
St. Paul 2-6

Pool B

GW 7-1
Southern 6-2
Harvest 3-5
JFK 3-5
St. John’s 1-8

PHOTO GALLERY:

(photo by Joey Blas)

(photo by Joey Blas)

(photo by Joey Blas)

(photo by Joey Blas)