Connect with us

GSPN

COUGARS WIN VOLLEYBALL TITLE REMATCH

The 2013 championship rematch between the Academy Cougars and Southern Dolphins played out in an all too familiar setting with the Cougars getting the win over the Dolphins in three sets.

By Kolby Chang

The defending champion AOLG Cougars got a stern early season test from the Southern Dolphins but came out with the 25-20, 21-25, 25-17 win in the IIAAG Girls Volleyball League at the Southern gym on Friday night. The Cougars easily defeated the Dolphins in last year’s title game and even though both teams are fielding vastly different rosters from last year, the game was still competitive from the start. With the win the Cougars improved their record to 4-1, while the Dolphins fell to 3-2.

Tied at 6-all in the third set following a big kill from Kyra Lee the Cougars got some momentum on their side and went up 8-6 after Dawn Maiko’s ace. The Cougars kept their foot on the gas pedal and built a 18-13 lead after an error by the Dolphins. The Dolphins cut the lead to 19-14 later in the set after a kill from April Talledo.

An AOLG Cougar attempts to save the ball after a double-block setup by the Dolphins during the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam girls volleyball league game held yesterday at the Southern High Gym in Santa Rita. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Academy’s Mya Sanchez attempts to save the ball after a double-block setup by the Dolphins during the championship rematch Friday at the Southern High Gym in Santa Rita. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

An error by the Cougars got the Dolphin faithful cheering for more but Juliana Nelson’s kill extended the visitors lead to 21-16. Ha’ani San Nicolas crushed down a kill to make it 23-16 and an error by the Dolphins had the Cougars on the brink of victory. A Cougars’ error was merely a bump in the road as for the champs as they sealed the game after a Dolphins’ error.

After dropping the first set, the home team rallied and knotted the game at one set apiece. The Dolphins trailed early in the second set 5-0 but fought back and tied the set at 15. Consecutive aces from Zoe Surber ace put the Dolphins up 23-20 and an error from the Cougars put it at set point. Lee threw down a kill to momentarily halt the Dolphins’ rally but Talledo tipped the ball past the defense to win the set for the home team.

The Cougars are the defending champions while the Dolphins are just two years removed from winning their first title under then-19-year-old first-year coach Jaret Sanchez.

It was a tough week for Academy as it dropped its first game to Notre Dame on Saturday, rebounded nicely with a crazy two-setter against the always-tough Geckos on Tuesday before the three-set affair on Friday.

Other Game

GW def. Notre Dame 25-23, 23-25, 25-15

Junior Varsity

GW def. Notre Dame 25-23, 25-16
Academy def. Southern 25-22, 25-27, 25-16
St. Thomas def. Guam High in 25-21, 25-12

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Wil Castro

Darianna Lujan of the Southern High Dolphins prepares to send a spike through the blocking Cougar during the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam girls volleyball league game held yesterday at the Southern High Gym in Santa Rita. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Darianna Lujan of the Southern Dolphins prepares to send a spike through the block of Cyndi Scott Friday at the Southern High Gym in Santa Rita. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Kyra Lee of the AOLG Cougars get her hand in the way of a spike during the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam girls volleyball league game held yesterday at the Southern High Gym in Santa Rita. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Academy’s Kyra Lee get her hand in the way of a spike Friday night in a championship rematch down south. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Cindi Scott of the AOLG Cougars soars a spike around the Dolphins blocker during the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam girls volleyball league game held yesterday at the Southern High Gym in Santa Rita. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Scott soars a spike around the Dolphins block. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Marlisah Tenorio of the Southern High Dolphins blocks a spike from Kyra Lee (14) during the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam girls volleyball league game held yesterday at the Southern High Gym in Santa Rita. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Kya Lee (L) and Marlisah Tenorio battle at the net. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Brittany Quinata sends a long-range spike over the net during the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam girls volleyball league game held yesterday at the Southern High Gym in Santa Rita. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Brittany Quinata sends a long-range spike over the net. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Marlisah Tenorio of the Southern High Dolphins gets in front of a spike sent from Cindi Scott of the Cougars during the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam girls volleyball league game held yesterday at the Southern High Gym in Santa Rita. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Southern’s Marlisah Tenorio gets in front of a spike sent from Cyndi Scott. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Darianna Lujan of the Southern High Dolphins gets air for a big spike during the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam girls volleyball league game held yesterday at the Southern High Gym in Santa Rita. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Darianna Lujan skies high in the middle for the Dolphins. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

April Talledo of the Southern High Dolphins sends a tipped ball past a Cougar during the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam girls volleyball league game held yesterday at the Southern High Gym in Santa Rita.(photo by Kyle Twardowski)

April Talledo is challenged at the net with this tip attempt.(photo by Kyle Twardowski)

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

12th

13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Events for July

13th

Events for July

14th

Events for July

15th

Events for July

16th

Events for July

17th

Events for July

18th

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 Volleyball Federation Referee Delegation for the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau. Referees were able to certify in both Beach and Indoor Volleyball.
L-R: (front row) Kohl Laguna, Jay Cruz, Kadance Sablan, Jim Reyes, Logan Pangelinan; (back row) Jack, Hattig, Ray Mesngon, Joe Aquino, Chris Shepherd, PJ Pangelinan
————————————————–
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.

More in GSPN