By Blake Watson

Tuesday evening presented a prelude to the IIAAG Girls Volleyball League finale as the St. John’s Knights took on the St. Paul Warriors for a spot in the title match. St. John’s notched a sweep of St. Paul in straight sets 25-9, 25-8, 25-16 with the Warriors flooring just two varsity members with the bulk of their team currently competing in the Asian Christian Schools Conference Tournament in Hong Kong.

The Knights will be going for their sixth title in school history and the first since 2010.

Fresh off one of the biggest wins in their recent volleyball history last week, beating the GW Geckos in five sets, the Warriors were facing their steepest uphill battle by trying to face the top-seeded St. John’s Knights at full force.

Wendy’s POG: Caitlyn Niu and Angeline Del Carmen

Knights too much for Young Warriors

St. Paul was short-handed, to say the least, as they visited the Dale J. Jenkins Gymnasium. The home team wasted no time getting into rhythm. The Knights jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. The St. John freshman Tylee Shepherd and Angeline Del Carmen gave the Warrior front fits as the young middle blocker and sparky right side had a field day spinning the ball.

Del Carmen ended the night with 14 kills.

The youthful Lady Warriors didn’t let their season go down without a fight. St. Paul was able to get solid production out of senior standout Haley Senne, one of the remaining varsity players left in rotation. Knights rode the hot hand of team captain Caitlyn Niu though, taking the first set 25-9.

St. John’s wasn’t done there. Out to prove they belong among the league’s top tier, the Lady Knights opened the second set on a 13-0 run from the service line as senior Sophie Meyers had her way with the holes in the St. Paul defense. Haley Senne helped rally her team late in the set, but it proved to be a little too late. The Warriors fell 25-8.

The third and final set was the closest the outmatched Warriors would get on the scoreboard to the red hot Lady Knights.

Shepherd was great at the net laying down kill after kill. St. John’s refused to be rattled throughout and it payed off in a three set sweep of the Warriors. The Knights will advance to the championship on Friday where the Notre Dame Royals await them. The title match can be heard live on www.guamsportnework.com. 

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