
By Robert Balajadia
As the girls volleyball season begins to wind down, the ND Royals continue to stand a top the IIAAG standings. Friday evening the Royals welcomed the Academy Cougars where ND would handle the Cougars in straight sets 25-19, 25-23.
ND’s Austia Mendiola and Manami Rabago each had six kills on the night with the pair of stellar sophomores taking turns doing damage in sets. Rabago helped control the opening set where she registered four of her six kills and Mendiola took over in the 2nd set with five kills.
Despite the Cougar wall of Laressa Halladay, Theisen Taimanglo and Isabella Bargfrede, the Royals smaller Rabago showed no fear. The Cougars registered seven total blocks from their wall, which made hitting for the Royals more difficult than usual.
“Their lineup is amazing. They made it very difficult for us today and we just had to adjust to it and find the gaps,” said Rabago.
The teams first meeting in the first week of the season proved a closer contest than their second meeting, but it was more about the Royals hitting a stride as the playoffs near.
“We’ve bonded better as a team and our communication and connection has only improved throughout the season. It’s been a pretty tough week, but it’s a been great experience with the girls,” added Rabago.
Game Recap
ND got off a strong start behind a pair of kills from Rabago to hold a 6-3 lead. The Cougars went on a 3-1 run behind Bargfrede, but it was short lived as ND found a groove behind Rabago serving. Manami notched an ace for a 17-12 lead, and a kill later to go up 21-16.
Mendiola would serve the final points as ND took the opening set 25-19.
Austia would pick up her play in the 2nd set as she registered four kills as ND held a 7-6 lead. Taimanglo tied the contest a play later, but a kill and ace from Brianne Leon Guerrero kept ND in front 12-8. Manami and Mendiola would go back-to-back for a 14-10 lead and another ace from Austia would force a Cougar timeout up 20-12.
Royal Carlie Quinata would show off some jumping by getting a kill to go up 21-12. The Cougars would make their run behind serving from Jackie Martinez and Taimanglo as Halladay would make her biggest impact. After Halladay and Bargfrede teamed up on a block, Halladay would destroy a free ball to tie the game at 21, as part of a 9-1 Cougar rally.
Errors would nix the Cougar comeback after the final two points ND scored were off Cougar mistakes.
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GPS Sports Calendar
February 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for January
1st
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
2nd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
4th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Events for February
6th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
7th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
8th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
9th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL FINALS
Events for February
12th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 2
Events for February
13th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
14th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
15th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
16th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
17th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
18th
BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2K/5K
World Athletics Cross Country Championships
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for February
20th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
21st
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
22nd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
23rd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
24th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for February
24th
Events for February
25th
Events for February
27th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for February
28th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

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